PML-N’S nominee for PM, says Shehbaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD: 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 intensified tensions between Nawaz and Nisar, leading to relations between the two worsening.
Shehbaz also dismissed claims that he had financially supported a controversial tell-all book written by Reham Khan, the former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf chairman Imran Khan.
“I am neither behind Reham’s book nor gave her a single penny for it directly or indirectly... Imran Khan has alleged that I am behind Reham’s book but I give no value to his allegation,” he said, adding that he only met Reham once in his life.