Nawaz Sharif’s Brother Becomes Interim Chief of Ruling PML-N

Nawaz Shariff was disqualified by the apex court after his name figured in the Panama Papers case in July 2017.

Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab province chief minister, was elected as interim president of the PML-N on 26 February.

(Photo: Facebook/ Shahbaz Sharif )

Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab province chief minister, on 26 February was elected as interim president of the PML-N while his elder brother and ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif was made the ruling party's 'Quaid' for life time.

The PML-N elected its new head days after the Supreme Court disqualified 68-year-old Nawaz as the chief of his party and struck down all decisions taken by him as the party head.

Shahbaz, 66, has been elected as the party's president for 45 days by its central working committee (CWC) in a meeting held in Sharif's Model Town Lahore residence on Tuesday.

In the meeting, Nawaz proposed the name of Shahbaz for the party's interim president which was unanimously approved by the CWC.

The meeting also approved making Nawaz PML-N "Quaid" (top leader) for life time and also paid tribute to his service for the party, country and democracy.

"Nawaz proposed Shahbaz's name for the party's interim president and all more than 100 CWC members approved his name unanimously. Shahbaz will continue as the party's full time president after the general council elects him in a meeting in Islamabad next month," he said.

Under the party's rules, the PML-N's CWC is supposed to elect an acting party head within a week of its chief's removal. Then the party's general council is required to elect a president within 45 days.

Nawaz was removed from the post of PML-N president by the apex court on 22 February.

After becoming the party president, Shahbaz praised his elder brother for making the PML-N the country's most popular political force.

I will try my best to come up to the expectations of my party after assuming this responsibility.

Shahbaz Sharif said

Nawaz has already nominated Shahbaz for the prime minister candidate if PML-N wins 2018's general elections.

He had finalised his younger brother's nomination for the slot of party president after consulting his wife Kulsoom, daughter Maryam, defunct finance minister Ishaq Dar, former information minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid and a few others.

Begum Kulsoom would have been the best choice to succeed Nawaz Sharif but since she is not well and is recovering from throat cancer (lymphoma) in London, Shahbaz Sharif has become the ultimate choice, although some close to Nawaz have reservations (about him). Maryam’s name was not considered for the slot as she is too young to handle the party at this stage. 

A PML-N leader said.

Nawaz was disqualified as the prime minister by the apex court in the Panama Papers case in July 2017 under Article 62 for failing to declare a receivable salary as an asset.

After his disqualification as prime minister, the ruling PML-N amended the Constitution to allow him to retain his chairmanship of the party.

However, the apex court last week ruled that it is mandatory for a party chief to fulfil the requirements of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution as a party head is powerful and political parties control the government.

It also said that a person who is disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution is not eligible to sign on any document needed to nominate someone to the National Assembly or Senate.

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