ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has resigned from the post of Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, party infromation secretary Marriyum
Aurangzeb confirmed on Monday.
Aurangzeb shared the resignation of the party’s president on her official X handle.
In the resignation letter addressed to the PML-N secretary general, PM Shehbaz
cited the tumultuous events of 2017, which resulted in the “unjust” disqualification
of Nawaz from PM Office and the presidency of the party and said he was
entrusted with the responsibility of assuming the presidency of the party.
“I am heartened by recent developments that have exonerated our leader with
dignity, affirming his unblemished integrity and commitment to the service of our
nation,” he added.
In light of these developments, the PM said said: “I believe the time has come for
Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to resume his rightful place as the President of Pakistan
Muslim League (N) and provide his invaluable leadership and vision to steer the
party forward.”
“Therefore, it is with a deep sense of duty and reverence for our party’s principles
that I tender my resignation as the President of Pakistan Muslim League (N),” he
added.
Following the senior politician’s resignation, PML-N has decided to convene a
meeting of the party’s central council on May 18 in Lahore under Clause 15 of the
party constitution.
PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal has sent notices regarding the meeting to all
the members of the general council.
PM Shehbaz has sent his resignation to the party supremo and had informed him
about his decision two days ago. Following the party’s central council meeting,
Nawaz will now be elected as party president.
PM Shehbaz’s decision comes weeks after reports of party supremo Nawaz Sharif
returning to the helm of PML-N’s affairs began circulating with even the senior
leadership confirming the development.
The party’s Punjab chapter President Rana Sanaullah, last month, said Nawaz
would retake the ruling party’s driving seat after the veteran politico received a
“clean chit” from the courts and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in multiple
cases lodged against him.
Sanaullah said: “Nawaz Sharif will lead the party again. The PML-N will move
forward under his leadership.”
The PML-N supremo got “clean chit” from the courts, he added.
Nawaz had stepped down as the country’s prime minister in 2017 after he was
disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not
declaring a receivable salary.
Following his trial in the Panama Papers case, the Supreme Court, in February
2018, disqualified Nawaz as PML-N president.
In its verdict, the top court had said that a person disqualified under Articles 62 and
63 cannot serve as the head of a political party. The veteran politician, however,
arrived back home from London after four years of self-imposed exile in October
last year.
On January 8, 2024, the top court scrapped lifetime bans on contesting elections for
people with criminal convictions, paving the way for Nawaz to take a fourth shot at
power.
The PML-N, on May 7, held a meeting — chaired by the supremo — with its
stalwarts in attendance to take important decisions about the party’s upcoming
general council meeting scheduled to be held in May 11, 2024.
As per sources, the meeting decided on re-election for the post of party president
with Nawaz being named as its new head, while Khawaja Saad Rafique to be
elected as its secretary general. The resolution to make Nawaz the president will be
presented in the general council meeting.
PML-N Punjab has already unanimously passed the resolution to make Nawaz the
party president. Party sources said it has been decided to separate government and
organisational positions to make the party active and organised at the public level
by reorganising.