Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif, weighing in on the debate surrounding the minus-Nawaz formula for PML-N, remarked that it is the decision of the nation and not individuals.
While speaking to the media, he remarked that “nation has the say on the decisions surrounding minus and plus formulas.”
Rumours are rife pertaining to ‘minus-Nawaz’ formula for the ruling PML-N. However, party leaders have time and again claimed that this formula is unacceptable.
Earlier in the day, Punjab Law Minister and senior Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz leader Rana Sanaullah said that the party will not accept the ‘minus-Nawaz’ formula. On Monday, the party senior leaders in a high-level huddle reiterated their support for Nawaz and said a minus Nawaz formula is not acceptable.
It was reportedly said during the meeting that Nawaz’s disqualification on the basis of Iqama had rallied supporters around him as the party feels he was not given a fair trial in the Panama Papers case.
According to a report, the participants of the meeting also said that there is no space in the political landscape of the country for any unconstitutional step and there is no support from any quarter for such measures. Moreover, it was also decided in the party meeting, which was held in London, that if victorious in next year’s general elections, the party’s prime ministerial candidate will be Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
During the meeting, which lasted over three hours and was held at Hasan Nawaz’s office, Shehbaz and the prime minister attempted to convince Nawaz to avoid clashing with state institutions, especially so close to next year’s general elections.
We hope former PM will be given chance of fair trial and lacunas in this regard will not be repeated. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is still popular leader and enjoys confidence of large population of the country. Although he is facing very tough circumstance but any move to remove him from political scene cannot succeed. PML-N needs to put his house in order and face the situation with full unity. PM Nawaz should avoid unnecessary confrontation with the states institutions and face the situation with calmness. Efforts should be made to strengthen democratic system of the country because any political chaos or uncertainty will be against the interests of the country.
