PM will not resign: Maryam

ISLAMABAD: Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday evening stated that there was no question of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stepping down.

In a tweet, she said that the prime minister will not resign, questioning that should we resign as during the five tenures of Nawaz Sharif, there was not proof of misappropriation of a single penny of the exchequer against him.

Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has opened another front for fighting with its political detractors by summoning its members of parliament tomorrow (Friday) as part of its political strategy for mopping-up the line of action in the final battle that commenced with the JIT report in the PanamaLeaks matter.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held consultative sessions with law experts, his political advisers, including Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, some federal ministers and advisers.

According to sources, after a lengthy consultative meeting on Wednesday it was decided that neither the prime minister would resign nor would the assemblies be dissolved.It was the fifth meeting under the chair of the prime minister in three days

It was also decided in the meeting that political allies in the government will be taken into confidence after the situation created by the JIT report.The members of the Senate belonging to the PML-N have also been invited to the meeting. The federal cabinet will also take stock of the overallsituation in its special meeting today (Thursday) with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair to fight the war imposed on the PML-N. It is understood that Nawaz Sharif, who has made up his mind to lead from the front in the combat, would announce major steps to deal with the situation in the parliamentary party’s meeting on Friday and before that he would take the members of the cabinet into confidence a day earlier regarding the developments and upcoming situation.

A legal team was also constituted under senior lawyer Khawaja Haris to have an in-depth and detailed review of the JIT’s final report. Another legal team under federal Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid and comprising Barrister Zafarullah and Anousha Rehman has already been formed in this regard.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the government has put the country on the path to progress and this journey will continue. He said that they would not be afraid of accountability as they have not committed any crime. He said that they have presented themselves for accountability but the real Ehtesab will be done by the people, and they will decide the matter.

Discussion was also held to take the Pakistan People’s Party into confidence regarding the political situation and meeting its leadership. Efforts will also be made to garner support of other political parties, including Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Qaumi Watan Party. According to sources, the prime minister will also hold meetings with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Hasil Bizenjo and Ijazul Haq.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif dashed to the federal capital from Lahore to attend the consultative meeting at the PM House. The meeting expressed satisfaction that the workers and leaders of the PML-N are fully charged and prepared to take on the opponents in any eventuality. They have been continuously offering their support and services in large numbers to the leadership in the upcoming conflict.

The sources said that the federal cabinet will repose its confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz. All state ministers, advisers and special assistants will also attend the special meeting of the cabinet, the sources added.