ISLAMABAD: Rana Sanaullah, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on Monday warned that the fate of former premier Imran Khan is not like Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.
Addressing a press conference here, Sanaullah stated, “I do not know where the PTI founder is getting his support from, but anyone can act foolishly. I pray that Allah saves the PTI founder from a fate similar to that of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”
He continued, “The PTI founder intends to mislead the nation, and I have consistently warned the people about this.”
Sanaullah said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif remains actively involved in party affairs and assured that the election for the party president will be conducted with utmost transparency.
The election for the ruling party’s president is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 (tomorrow).
On May 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had stepped down as the president of the PML-N, paving the way for party supremo and three times former premier Nawaz Sharif to be elected as the party head.
Shehbaz was formally elected PML-N president in March 2018, months after the disqualification of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court. After the disqualification from holding any public office, Nawaz was also disqualified from holding any office in the political party.
Following the resignation of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, a meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) was convened according to the party’s constitution on Saturday, Sanaullah stated.
“The CWC has accepted Shehbaz Sharif’s resignation and appointed him as the acting president [until tomorrow’s election],” he added.
Sanaullah revealed that the CWC formed an election commission, which has released the election schedule.
“Nomination papers were to be issued by 5pm today, and we have issued 11 nomination papers,” he said, listing candidates including Basheer Memon, Irfan Siddiqui, Anusha Rehman, Raja Farooq Haider, and Shah Ghulam Qadir.
“If there is no other candidate, the president will be elected unopposed; otherwise, an election by show of hands will be held,” he explained.
Highlighting Nawaz Sharif’s contributions, Sanaullah remarked, “Nawaz Sharif has made PML-N a popular and public party, bringing it to power four times and making Pakistan a nuclear power during his tenure.” He emphasised that any party member is welcome to submit their nomination papers and that consensus on any candidate should not be objected to.
Addressing concerns about Nawaz Sharif’s involvement, he said, “Nawaz Sharif is not estranged from anyone and is fully active. The lack of statements from him will soon end. All fundamental decisions of the federal and Punjab governments are made with his consent.”
Regarding potential changes in other party positions, Sanaullah mentioned that there are opinions and suggestions, and necessary changes could be made where needed.
On Shehbaz’s role, Sanaullah noted, “Shehbaz Sharif is the most important person in the party after Nawaz Sharif. However, he is currently focused on rescuing the country from economic crisis, which is a more crucial task.”
He concluded by asserting that political revenge has historically targeted the Sharif family, contributing to their strong emotional bond with the party and the public. “If a proper democratic attitude had been prevailing in the country, there would have been many changes in both the country and the party by now. We believe in the parliamentary democratic system,” he affirmed.
In response to a question about societal changes, he remarked, “Even the transgender community in this country has become revolutionary.”
