Shahbaz Sharif likely to be elected new PML-N chief: sources

ISLAMABAD: In the aftermath of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification from the presidency of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party is facing a tough call of electing its new head.

Quoting sources, ARY News reported on Friday, that the party has decided to elevate Shahbaz Sharif, who is the chief minister of Punjab, as the next head of the PML-N.

A meeting of General Council of the PML-N will be called soon after the Senate polls for rectifying the decision, sources said. In the meantime, the party would elect an acting president as a stop-gape arrangement to run the party affairs.

Reports suggest that Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the former premier, is also being considered for the coveted slot.

It would be a tough challenge for the party to elect its chief as electing either one of the two possible candidates – Shahbaz and Maryam, – is likely to offend the other.

Since July 28 when Sharif was dislodged from the office of the prime minister of Pakistan, speculations about a power struggle between his side of the family and that of Shahbaz Sharif have been rife.

However, members of the ruling party have often denied such rumours. Of late, in a show of unity, the former premier and his daughter shared stage with his younger brother Shahbaz and nephew MNA Humza Shahbaz during a public meeting in Lodhran.

A number of PML-N leaders from Punjab want to see Shahbaz Sharif taking over the reins of the party.

Maryam’s elevation to the top party slot is likely to affront some senior party leaders who repeatedly disapproved of the idea of electing her to the top position in the past.

Among them is PML-N stalwart and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar, who recently made it clear that he would not serve in the ruling PML-N under the leadership of juniors.

Sharif disqualified from being PML-N chief

On Wednesday, former premier Nawaz Sharif was also declared ineligible to head his party.

The three-member bench of Supreme Court , headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar gave this verdict on a number of petitions assailing the controversial amendment to the Election Act 20117, which allowed Sharif to head his party.

The court also declared that all decisions taken by Nawaz as PML-N president since July 28 stand null and void after the judgment.

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