Islamabad: Amid rifts within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), beleaguered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to appoint his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif — the incumbent Punjab chief minister — his successor if the Supreme Court disqualifies him in the Panama leaks scandal, sources said on Saturday.
Since Shehbaz Sharif is a member of Punjab Assembly, the PML-N will need someone to fill the Prime Minister’s post for an interim period, till junior Sharif is elected as a National Assembly member to become eligible for the country’s top post. Reports said defence minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif is the top contender for this stop-gap arrangement.
Though legal experts say that the PM’s disqualification is highly unlikely, in a series of meetings with close aides, Mr Sharif considered several options for his replacement.
Sources said the PML-N does not want to call early elections. The party is keen on completing all the ongoing mega-projects and use this as its main electoral plank to secure victory in the 2018 polls.
The second big motive behind completion of tenure is to acquire two-thirds majority in the Senate, a PML-N leader said.
The PM’s legal team says it is highly unlikely that the SC would disqualify him. They say that the SC would forward the reference to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who would have to take a call within 30 days, failing which the case would come under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan skipped the recent meetings as rumours of rift surged. Mr Khan has called a news conference today to air his grievances.
On Saturday, minister for petroleum and natural resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, federal minister for railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and another senior leaders reached Punjab House to placate the annoyed minister.
Mr Khan said that while he was bound by party discipline, and was not given to irresponsible behaviour or statements, he had the right to express himself.
The interior minister is strongly against party policy regarding the Panama case and the Joint Investigation Team (JIT). He is also opposed to the idea of defence minister Khawaja Asif or federal minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal becoming interim Prime Ministers if Nawaz Sharif were to leave office.
In case either of these two leaders are appointed premier, then Mr Khan will resign from his ministry, but will not quit PML-N and support the party as a Member National Assembly (MNA).
PM Sharif is likely to contact Mr Khan to address his concerns.
