Finally lifting the curtain on her unexpected resignation from the party’s top post, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that Maryam Nawaz has assumed the leadership role and she is expected to take over her role. “Space” is needed.
Former Prime Minister Abbasi decided to resign after Maryam Nawaz was made senior vice president and chief organizer of the party by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the president of the Muslim League-N.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad on Friday, Abbasi clarified: “I have resigned from my post but I stand by the party and will always be a part of it.”
A senior PML-N leader said that ‘she [Maryam] needs space, if we are there, there will be disagreement which is not suitable for anyone.
He added that when the new generation comes, the old people have to step into the new role.
“He [Abassi] is a great leader and there will be no impact on him stepping down,” Mohammad Zubair, a spokesman for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, said on Wednesday.
Former Sindh Governor Zubair had said that he did not want to “wash dirty laundry” in public. “He is a very senior leader and former prime minister. The party needs his experience.
Sharing same party rank is ‘not appropriate’.
On February 1, Abbasi said that it was not appropriate for Maryam to share the same party rank in PML-N after she assumed the post of senior vice-president and chief organizer.
The landmark decision, which was taken during Maryam’s stay in London earlier this month, made her the third most powerful figure in the party after her father, three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and her uncle, Prime Minister Shehbaz. gave
During her recent months-long visit to London, Maryam – scion of the Sharif family’s political dynasty – was also tasked by Nawaz Sharif with “restructuring” the party.
“I have no objection [to Maryam’s appointment]. It is the discretion of the party and its president, I have no reservations,” Abbasi said.
“I submitted my resignation on January 3,” he added.
Hitting back at critics, Abbasi had said that “whether people like it or not, family politics does not disqualify anyone”. “We should leave it to the people.”
Responding to a question, Abbasi said that one should have faith in the party’s leadership, but insisted that “it would be better if there is a consultative process.”
“I have said before that when Maryam [takes the reins of the party], I would not prefer to stay in the same position […] because when you stay, there will be disagreements in the party. And that is not in anyone’s favor,” he said.
According to the veteran politician, he is a member of PML-N and will remain so, rejecting reports of forming a separate political party. I am a worker of Muslim League-N and I will continue to work in whatever capacity I am asked.
While not taking credit for Maryam’s hard work, the former prime minister also said that the vice president of PML-N has made a place for himself in the hearts of voters and people.
