the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) elected Nawaz Sharif as its president unopposed, marking his return to the top post six years after a court ruling removed him from office. Nawaz lost both the prime minister’s office and the presidency of his party on July 28, 2017, following the Panama Papers ruling. Since then, PML-N has built a narrative around the catchphrase “mujhy kyun nikala” (Why was I removed?).
Nawaz was re-elected as the party president without any competition, as no other party leader submitted nomination papers against him. In his address to the party’s general council meeting, Nawaz emphasized that Pakistan would have achieved significant progress if his governments had not been repeatedly toppled. He lamented the longstanding practice of “leg pulling” since 1977, which he believes has weakened the country.
Shehbaz criticized the judiciary for perceived biases and claimed that the 2018 elections were unfairly taken from PML-N.
“We have never approached anyone with a begging bowl,” Nawaz asserted, adding that he would not have complained if he had been ousted for corruption. He celebrated his re-election as a repudiation of the former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar’s decision in the Panama Papers case, which he claimed had been discarded.
Nawaz criticized a handful of individuals for undermining the people’s mandate and praised his party members for their resilience during challenging times. He also commended his brother, PM Shehbaz Sharif, for his loyalty and resilience, highlighting that Shehbaz refused the prime minister’s post offered to him in exchange for disloyalty.
The newly re-elected president congratulated his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Mariam Nawaz, for keeping the party active. He accused Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of playing a role in his ouster and derailing democracy.
PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed his confidence in Nawaz’s leadership, stating that with Nawaz at the helm, Pakistan would overcome its crises and return to its former state of development. Shehbaz criticized the judiciary for perceived biases and claimed that the 2018 elections were unfairly taken from PML-N. He urged judges to prioritize Pakistan’s development, despite some allegedly supporting Imran Khan.
The return of Nawaz Sharif to PML-N’s presidency, following Shehbaz’s step-down earlier this month, signifies a strategic shift aimed at revitalizing the party and addressing Pakistan’s current challenges under Nawaz’s seasoned leadership.
