Khawaja Asif, reportedly the messenger of Nawaz Sharif's decision to support the Army Amendment Act, is considering quitting as Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader in the National Assembly in the wake of severe criticism from within the party, the social media and conventional media.
Background interviews with PML-N parliamentarians reveal that Khawaja Asif has developed serious differences with senior party leaders, including incarcerated former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. This was indicated by Khawaja Asif not meeting Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chamber of the opposition leader when the former prime minister came to attend the National Assembly session on Tuesday after his production orders were issued.
Party insiders said that Khawaja Asif along with other party leaders including former speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Rana Tanvir Hussain was having coffee in the room adjacent to where Abbasi was sitting.
Abbasi reportedly expressed displeasure at not being consulted or taken into confidence before announcing the 'unconditional' support to the amendment to the Army Act, the sources maintained.
According to sources, MNA Attaullah Tarar, son of former president Rafique Tarar, is now playing the role of a messenger between Nawaz Sharif and the party leaders in Pakistan after Khawaja Asif excused himself from the position.
Many senior PML-N leaders put tough questions to Khawaja Asif when he announced Nawaz Sharif's instructions to support Army Act, sources added.
Due to widening differences with the party leadership and continued criticism from party leaders in Pakistan, sources added that Khawaja Asif may step down as the party's parliamentary leader in National Assembly.
A senior PML-N leader who requested anonymity told Business Recorder that not only the voters and supporters of the party, but party leaders are not happy over the decision to support the Army amendment Act.
Given the government's refusal to remove Maryam Nawaz from the exit control list (ECL) after the passage of the Army Amendment Act, many in the party are raising questions at Nawaz Sharif's decision.