Shehbaz says he is PML-N’s PM nominee

ISLAMABAD:S

Shehbaz Sharif, the former chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province has said that he will be the PML-N party’s candidate for premiership in the upcoming general elections.

Shehbaz, the president of the PML-N, said in an interview given to Duniya TV on Sunday that he had been chosen for the post by his elder brother and ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif. “If we won the upcoming elections, I will be the prime minister,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of a change in candidature if his niece Maryam Nawaz were to win her seat to win in the upcoming polls, Shehbaz was adamant that he would still be the prime minister. He did not comment further on the issue.

Shehbaz also expressed regret over the rift between Nawaz and party stalwart and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar. “Nisar has always been a close aide of Nawaz. I wish their friendship had continued. It is unfortunate that they parted ways,” he said

He added that he had unsuccessfully lobbied his brother for awarding Nisar a party ticket for the general elections.

“Although I was unaware if he would take it since he had not applied for the ticket nor had the parliamentary board considered him but I made a personal request to Nawaz who agreed with me,” Shehbaz said.

But before the ticket could be allotted, he added, there were some “fiery statements” which had intensified tensions between Nawaz and Nisar, leading to relations between the two worsening.