Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said that the party president and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif would stay in London till his brother Nawaz Sharif undergoes heart procedure. However, sources claim that the Sharif family is sorting out their internal issues and Shehbaz Sharif is unlikely to return to Pakistan any time soon.
‘Shehbaz Sharif not to return Pakistan before Nawaz’s surgery’#ARYNews https://t.co/Ok3A8mnLZC
— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) February 27, 2020
Rana Sanaullah said that he had talked to Shehbaz Sharif via telephone and the latter said that they could get a date for Nawaz Sharif’s surgery in the next week. “He is currently staying in London due to the planned surgery of his brother,” he said and added that it was necessary to remain admitted at the hospital 10 days prior to the operation.
He said that Nawaz Sharif had to undergo a critical heart surgery and it was up to the doctors, who decided against conducting the operation on February 24.
Fawad suggests to have a new opposition leader
Recently, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has urged the speaker of the National Assembly to inquire about the exact date of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif’s return to the country or move for the appointment of a new opposition leader “to ensure the smooth running of legislative functions of the house”.
Shehbaz Sharif decides to return Pakistan from London in February https://t.co/jZJ0NhQ1nc pic.twitter.com/btWViogIFS
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) January 23, 2020
In his letter to Speaker Asad Qaiser, Chaudhry said it was a matter of great concern and that the opposition leader had been conspicuous by his absence for a long time. “In addition, he has withdrawn from the position of chairman, Public Accounts Committee, which is an important component of the National Assembly,” he noted.
Read more: Will Shehbaz Sharif return to Pakistan?
The federal minister further said that despite his non-appearance and his obvious disinterest in the affairs of the House, Shehbaz was enjoying all the privileges entitled to the office of the opposition leader, which was a clear violation of the Rules of Business of the National Assembly and a contravention of democratic norms.
Shehbaz is not coming to Pakistan any time soon, GVS reported
It is worth noting that this publication recently reported that the PML-N is not returning to Pakistan any time soon. Credible sources told GVS that the PML-N’s President is considering various options before making any final decision. “Shehbaz Sharif always wanted to come back to Pakistan but he never trusted Nawaz and Maryam,” a source, GVS spoke with, said.
Earlier, media reports claimed that Shehbaz Sharif held a two-hour-long consultative meeting with elder brother and former premier, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. It was revealed, read reports, that Shehbaz Sharif will board a flight tentatively within the next two days for his return to home soil.
Some sources claim that once again an overall political context is being created to force the government to let Maryam Nawaz leave for London
Shehbaz Sharif has been in London with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif who is undergoing medical treatment after he was released on bail by Lahore High Court and allowed to fly abroad on the basis of critical health conditions.
In a statement, the PML-N’s President has said it was very unfortunate that Maryam was not being granted permission to take care of her father. Maryam should be permitted to be with her father on humanitarian grounds, the PML-N president said.
“As Nawaz’s health is concerned, the margin for medical action is reducing as more time passes,” Shehbaz said, adding that cardiologists had to twice change the earlier decided date for his brother’s cardiac catheterization as Maryam was not with him.
Read more: You are setting a dangerous precedent, Imran Khan: Shehbaz Sharif warns
There is a widely held perception in Pakistan that Nawaz Sharif left for London after signing a deal with the establishment. Therefore, no tweet or statement has been issued by Nawaz or his daughter against the same, sources claim.
Those who suspect a deal point towards the past. If the history of Pakistan is any witness to help then it may be true. No politically powerful person in Pakistan’s history has ever been punished in a court of law; convictions even if obtained in lower courts are almost always overturned by superior courts.
The system simply does not have the will to punish powerful people- they argue. In the instant case, powerful sections of media, doctors and other actors active behind the scenes made a case to pressurize Prime Minister Imran Khan to let Nawaz go to London under a medical emergency.
Read more: Will Maryam Nawaz be allowed to leave for London?
Some sources claim that once again an overall political context is being created to force the government to let Maryam Nawaz leave for London. However, this time it looks difficult for Prime Minister Imran Khan to allow Maryam to leave the country since some of his key cabinet members are against any such move.