ALI HUSSAIN
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister and President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif Monday invited veteran politician Javed Hashmi to rejoin PML-N.
The party insiders said that Hashmi held a meeting with the former prime minister here at Punjab House and was offered to rejoin the PML-N, adding that the veteran politician will formally announce his decision later in a public rally at his home constituency in Multan.
Hashmi had earlier parted his ways with the PML-N and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) but he quit the party in 2014 after developing difference with Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan during the party’s 126-day long sit-in in Islamabad.
Upon arrival at the Punjab House, the sources said that Nawaz Sharif warmly received Javed Hashmi by hugging him.
Talking to reporters after having the meeting, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that Nawaz appreciated Hashmi’s role for the supremacy of the law and his efforts for the strengthening of democracy in the country.
Describing Hashmi as party’s asset, he said that the PML-N agrees to the opinion of Hashmi. “Both the leaders agreed to continue their struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution,” he added.
To a question, he said that the party will deliberate upon Hashmi’s inclusion in the party in its next stage of movement for the supremacy of law. “Such meetings are not held to apologize for something or express embarrassment,” he said, when asked whether Hashmi apologized for parting ways with the party in the past.
Maryam Nawaz who was also present at the meeting later tweeted, “Homecoming means coming home to what is in your heart....,” “Nawaz Sharif is like first love. Those who know him & his camaraderie, do not seem to settle for anything less. He’s always the first option,” she stated in yet another tweet.
Maryam also endorsed a request from the party’s workers on the Twitter, asking for restoration of party’s basic memberships of Senator Nehal Hashmi whose membership was suspended following his video went viral on social media in which he had severely criticized and tried to intimidate judges of the higher judiciary.
Nawaz Sharif also chaired meeting of the newly formed Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PML-N which was attended by the newly appointed members of the CEC in which it was also decided to issue show-cause notices to Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Raza Hayat Hairaj for violation of party discipline.
The CEC meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and other senior party leaders.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, PML-N Central Secretary Information Mushahidullah Khan said that the CEC in its first meeting discussed the overall political situation of the country as well as the government’s performance so far.
He said the party has also decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against former premier Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Raza Hayat Hairaj for violation of party discipline when they supported the opposition bill aimed at de-seating Nawaz Sharif as the party head in National Assembly recently.
He said that Nawaz Sharif directed the party to start its preparations for mass contact movement ahead of the next general elections. He said the party will be mobilized to enthusiastically participate in the elections.
He said responsibilities will be assigned to party leaders at district level for the purpose, adding that it has also been decided to prepare a blue print of the party’s strategy for 2018 general elections.
He said that the party’s CEC expressed full confidence in the leadership of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.
He said that the meeting also reviewed performance of the government and expressed satisfaction over “successfully fulfilling the pledges about elimination of terrorism and load-shedding as well as bringing the economy back on track.”
“The verdict of the Supreme Court in Panama Papers case negatively affected the overall situation, but despite this, the overall performance of the government remains unaffected by anti-government and anti-democracy moves,” he maintained. Responding to a question, he said, “PML-N does not believe in confrontation and self-defence should not be construed as confrontation.” He said all parties should join hands for strengthening of democracy and national institutions. To another question, he said that Javed Hashmi in a meeting with Nawaz Sharif, expressed his opinions openly but his re-inclusion in the party was not discussed. Earlier, Nawaz Sharif shared light moments with party members and workers. Nawaz also read out verses of poetry on the occasion.
