LAHORE: The president of PML-N, Shahbaz Sharif, jumped on Thursday "a very important meeting" with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in jail, fueling speculation that the two brothers had developed differences on the issue of joining the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) March of Azadi on October 31.
Shahbaz was the center of attention for his alleged opposition to suggestions that his party joined the march to Islamabad after some leaders, including Nawaz's son-in-law, retired captain Mohammad Safdar, declared that the former prime minister had given one step". -ahead "to workers to participate in it to expel the" selected government. "
Shahbaz did not go to the Kot Lakhpat jail on Thursday to meet his older brother despite the party's announcement that the former would submit suggestions from its main leaders to the latter regarding joining the JUI-F protest. The former Prime Minister of Punjab was to announce Nawaz's decision on the matter after the meeting.
A backache was mentioned as the reason for Shahbaz's failure to meet his older brother.
The sources believe that, since Shahbaz is not in favor of joining the march announced by the head of JUI-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he "postponed" his meeting with Nawaz on Thursday, as he wanted to present "strong arguments" against of the proposal to his brother later.
However, a television channel quoted Shahbaz on Thursday night saying he might have different opinions on some issues, but his older brother's decision was final and the party would follow.
After meeting with Nawaz, Captain Safdar revealed that the message of the supreme party to the workers was "must participate" in the protest of Maulana Fazl. "Those who love the country will join the march," Nawaz said.
"Maulana Fazl is the boyfriend of the Azadi march and the PML-N will be with him … After independence, this will be the biggest sitting in the country's history," said Captain Safdar.
He said that Islamabad's proposed sitting was not only to get rid of the government but also for "the freedom of occupied Kashmir." "Nawaz Sharif said that this sitting is to respect the vote and for the freedom of Kashmir," he added.
Another important PML-N leader, Mian Javed Latif, said Nawaz had written a letter to Maulana Fazl informing him of the party's decision to join the anti-government march.
The head of PML-N in Lahore, Pervaiz Malik, confirmed in a statement that, according to the Nawaz board, the party would take part in the march. "The time has come to get rid of Imran Khan's fascist government," he said.
The party's spokesman, Marriyum Aurangzeb, said the party would announce its decision once Nawaz took one.
She rejected reports on the differences between the two brothers during the march, describing them as a "malicious campaign."
An unconditional PML-N meeting that was chaired by Shahbaz in Lahore could not agree to join the Azadi march. However, party leaders pledged to follow whatever decision Nawaz would make about it.
Those who expressed reservations about joining the protest asked how the opposition would send Prime Minister Imran Khan to a long march of a few days, since Maulana Fazl was not sure of organizing a sit-in (in Islamabad) for an indefinite period. period.
The inability to evict the government or pressure it to announce medium-term surveys would further push the opposition against the wall, they said. In addition, a "clear agenda" for the protest had not yet been shared with the PML-N.
Those who spoke in favor of joining the Azadi march said that the PML-N could not afford to stay out of this "great political activity", as this could result in the party granting some political ground to the other parties.
According to sources in the PML-N, Shahbaz has never been in favor of making the "agitation" policy, especially against the factual powers.
"Whether it was the occasion of the return of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz from London 15 months ago to face the jail when the rally led by Shahbaz in Lahore wandered for hours to get to the airport he could not or any other similar event, the young Sharif always is willing to avoid confrontation with the military establishment, "said a party source. On this occasion (JUI-F march) too, Shahbaz did not want confrontation.
“Since Imran Khan's government enjoys strong support from the establishment, accompanying the JUI-F protest march means going against the establishment that he can never afford. Shahbaz is still trying to find an intermediate path. "
On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif has categorically refused to reach an agreement with the establishment at this stage, saying he had nothing to lose now.
“Nawaz wants confrontation with both the PTI government and its sponsors, no matter what. And Maulana Fazl's protest plan is providing a perfect platform for Nawaz to confront power brokers, "he said, adding that with such a conflict in the two brothers' approach, the PML-N has fallen into a dilemma and It is difficult to achieve any sustainable political gain.
Posted on Dawn, October 11, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1510208/sharif-brothers-divided-on-jui-f-march