The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Monday amended party's constitution, allowing the deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to head the party again, following his disqualification by the Supreme Court in its July 28 Panama Papers case verdict.
The Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party chaired by PML-N Chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq and attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N Acting President Sardar Yaqub Khan Naser, Senator Mushahidullah Khan and others, approved the amendment to the party constitution, which abolishes the condition that any disqualified person from the court cannot hold any party office.
The amendment, according to the sources, aimed at removing the condition of Articles 62 and 63 of Constitution as the qualification for holding any position of the party, which also paved the way for Nawaz Sharif to head the PML-N again.
Nawaz Sharif is likely to be re-elected unopposed as the party's president today (Tuesday) in the party's General Council meeting already convened in Convention Center here, as the sources ruled out possibility of filing any nomination paper by any party leader against the deposed party chief.
The sources further said that the amendment was moved by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal as the PML-N general secretary, which was approved unanimously. The CWC also reposed confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif through adopting a unanimous resolution. The resolution moved by Mushahidullah Khan, Minister for Climate Change, also highlighted Nawaz Sharif's four-year performance and achievements as the prime minister. The resolution also paid tribute to the former prime minister for his services during his tenure.
The apex court in its July 28 verdict in Panama Papers case disqualified Nawaz Sharif from the office of the prime minister and as head of the PML-N. Meanwhile, a consultative meeting which held at Punjab House here also discussed the situation arising out of the Monday's appearance of Nawaz Sharif in accountability court when Rangers personnel did not allow Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and other PML-N leaders to accompany the deposed prime minister to the court. Sources said that Ahsan Iqbal gave a detailed briefing to the meeting which was also attended by Nawaz Sharif and other senior leaders of the party including Shahbaz Sharif, Pervaiz Rashid and Dr Asif Kirmani.