ISLAMABAD: Opposition candidate for election of Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif Sunday dodged media questions about the return of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.
“When will Nawaz Sharif return? What will happen to his cases?” a question was put to him by a journalist during an informal talk with media.
Shehbaz Sharif expressed the commitment to take forward the country and make it a great nation whilst forgetting bitterness of the past.
In his victory speech after ousting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government through a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the wee hours of Sunday, Sharif had said, “We want to heal the woes and wounds of the nation. We will not take revenge from anybody.”
He said there will be no injustice or excesses and innocent people will not be sent behind the bars. He however, said that the law will take its course. The PML-N president said, “We respect the judiciary. There will be no interference in dispensation of justice as the allied parties have great respect for the judiciary.”
He vowed to run the affairs of the country in consultations and taking along the institutions. He vowed to transform the country according to the vision of founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, ensuring rule of law and justice in the society.
He recalled that opposition leaders including PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif faced jail, adding that he did not want to be stuck up in the bitterness of the past and rather “we want to move forward and make Pakistan a great nation, forgetting the past bitterness.”
Shehbaz also expressed resolve to mitigate sufferings of the common man and work for welfare of downtrodden segments of the society. He praised allied parties for exhibiting great unity and making the motion against the prime minister successful. He was confident that this unity will again build Pakistan.
Later in the day, Shehbaz Sharif nominated himself for the position of prime minister.
In accordance with the deadline of the submission stipulated by the National Assembly, the leader of the opposition submitted nomination papers for the new leader of the house, while the former ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) nominated ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for the post of PM.
PML-N senior leaders Khawaja Asif and Rana Tanveer will act as proposer and endorser for Shehbaz. Meanwhile, PTI members Aamir Dogar and Ali Muhammad Khan will serve as proposer and endorser for the PTI’s vice-chairman.
Prior to submitting the papers the PML-N president took to his official Twitter handle to give “special thanks” to those who stood up “for the Constitution!”
The National Assembly Secretariat had earlier announced the time for the submission of nomination papers and scrutiny for the election of premier and leader of the NA. According to the spokesperson, the submission and scrutiny of nomination papers for the election of the premier and leader of the NA shall be in accordance with the times announced in the house.
The spokesperson added that the deadline for the submission of nomination papers for the election of leader of the house is 2pm, while the scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted at 3pm.
However, Shehbaz avoided to give a date for return of Sharif, saying, “Nawaz Sharif’s cases will be followed as per the law.”
He said that Pakistan wanted peace with India, but peace was not possible without the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Shehbaz Sharif said that national harmony was his first priority, adding that the new cabinet would be formed in consultation with the opposition leaders.
“Efforts will be made to improve the national economy and provide relief to the people,” he pledged and also vowed to start a new era in the country.
“We will promote mutual respect,” he added.
