LAHORE: Opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Monday took exception to, what they called, ‘strange demand’ by their colleagues on the treasury benches that only a member of the Sharif family be the chief minister of Punjab if incumbent chief minister Shahbaz Sharif becomes prime minister.
MPAs from the Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the PML-Q and the PPP said they were surprised as how could over 300 MPAs from the ruling party “wanted only a member (Hamza Shahbaz) of the Sharif family and no one else to replace Shahbaz Sharif”.
“This shows the dictatorial mindset of the Sharif family,” Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed told Dawn on Monday.
“Is there not a single person among over 300 PML-N MPAs competent enough to replace Shahbaz in case he succeeds his brother (Nawaz Sharif) in the Centre.”
Some treasury MPAs say they’re not consulted on Hamza’s nomination
He said Hamza, being a member of the Sharif dynasty, would not be acceptable to the opposition. “We will protest his nomination and try to make the PMLN- legislators realise that they raise voice for their right to be considered for this slot as they are not slaves to the Sharifs,” Mr Rashid said.
PML-Q Deputy Parliamentary Leader Vickas Hasan Mokal said that there was a number of PML-N MPAs who might not support Hamza but “under party compulsion” they had to vote for him. “However whosoever replaces Shahbaz he will be a ‘puppet CM’ and Shahbaz Sharif will be calling the shots from Islamabad,” Mr Mokal said.
PPP MPA Faiza Malik said “It appears the Sharifs are controlling their MPAs through fear and favour. At least some senior and seasoned PML-N legislator should tell Shahbaz as how could they work under a Sharif junior who apparently has no experience to run the province,” she said.
Ms Malik said the Sharifs showed no care to their senior party leaders. “Like in the Centre Nawaz completely ignored his old comrade Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and others and preferred his brother (Shahbaz) for the PM slot. Similarly in Punjab Shahbaz is ignoring their tested old guards and preferring his young son ... this is big example of nepotism,” she said.
The names of PML-N legislators like Rana Sanaullah, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Bilal Yasin and Zakia Shahnawaz are doing the rounds only for ‘interim chief minister’ for 45 days.
A couple of ruling MPAs told Dawn that they were not contacted by the party leadership about Shahbaz’s successor.
“I tell you there is nobody in the PML-N who can dare to tell Shahbaz about his choice of chief minister in Punjab,” a PML-N legislator told Dawn.
“All MPAs will in one voice say ‘yes’ to Shahbaz’s choice,” he said, adding Hamza was too “inexperienced” to hold this top position. “We hope that Nawaz Sharif will consider someone else among the PML-N MPAs to succeed Shahbaz,” he said.
Aysha Ahad, who contested against Hamza on NA-119 in the 2013 elections, said she would move the court against Hamza for his disqualification under articles 62 and 63 for concealing his marriage with her. Hamza denied his marriage with Ms Ahad.
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