Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)'s chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday turned down resignation presented by party's senior leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, it is learnt. Sources in the party told Business Recorder that the PML-N's outspoken leader Javed Hashmi wanted to present his resignation as member of the National Assembly to the party's chief during the meeting of the PML-N's Central Organising Committee and Parliamentary Party, held here at Punjab House.
But Nawaz Sharif turned down the move and asked Hashmi to continue and also lauded his services for the restoration of democracy. It is pertinent to mention that Hashmi on April 21, had slammed his own party leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, asking them to apologise to the nation for abandoning Pakistan for 10 years and accepting a Saudi exile for a pardoned conviction. Speaking in National Assembly, Hashmi had also tendered an apology to the nation for accepting a ministry for some time in early 1980s under military ruler General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq.
His speech in the Lower House of the Parliament, in which he had also proposed splitting up the country's four provinces in up to 16 for good administration, invited criticism within the party and many of the of the leaders wanted the party's leadership to take disciplinary action against him.