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Thursday March 28, 2024

Nawaz Sharif ko kis ne dhaka diya?

By Ansar Abbasi
May 18, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Shahbaz Sharif told his elder brother Nawaz Sharif that whoever had arranged his recent controversial interview had actually done enmity not only with Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N but also with Pakistan.

The Punjab chief minister told the PML-N parliamentarians here on Thursday that he had met Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday to convey his views regarding what the former premier recently said on the issue of Mumbai attacks.

In response to Shahbaz Sharif’s view, according to sources, Nawaz Sharif kept a mum and did not speak his mind. These sources said that Shahbaz Sharif has some idea who had pushed Nawaz Sharif to this highly embarrassing situation but he is avoiding taking those names either in public or in parliamentary party meetings. Within the PML-N, Shahbaz Sharif represents the feelings of those who are really disturbed after Nawaz Sharif’s recent statement: "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?"

The sources said that Shahbaz Sharif also complained to Nawaz Sharif how he was made to give interview to the same journalist who was the author of DawnLeaks story, which had brought enormous problems for the ruling PML-N government. Before his latest meeting, Shahbaz had interacted with Nawaz Sharif on the issue the very next day of the publication of the controversial interview. Shahbaz has been trying to save his elder brother from the damage done but Nawaz Sharif continues to defend his controversial statement. Shahbaz Sharif’s first response on the interview was aimed at controlling the damage but to his frustration Nawaz Sharif the very next day read out the controversial part of his interview and stated what wrong did he say.

Shahbaz Sharif’s initial response was: “PML-N rejects all assertions, direct or implied, made in news report of Dawn, dated 12-5-18. State of Pakistan and all its institutions stand together in the global fight against terrorism. We strongly believe that interests of Pakistan are supreme to all personal and political interests. There shall never be any compromise on any national interest. The report has incorrectly attributed certain remarks to PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, which do not represent PML-N’s party policy.”

According to the PML-N sources, in Shahbaz Sharif’s view if Nawaz Sharif had not spoken on the subject after his above-mentioned response on the Dawn interview, things would have settled by now. However, it did not happen which is upsetting for many of the PML-N MPs and leaders.

Most of the PML-N leaders avoid appearing on TV talk shows as they don’t want to defend what Nawaz Sharif had said. In the PML-N parliamentary party meeting held on Thursday, Shahbaz Sharif was told by some of the outspoken MNAs that they can’t go to elections while taking the burden of Nawaz Sharif’s pro-India statement. It is also discussed within the PML-N ranks as to who had pushed Nawaz Sharif to this situation (Nawaz Sharif ko kis ne dhaka diya). Generally the leaguers point finger at one of their colleagues while another person is also seen with suspicion but no one wants to discuss it in public or with the media.