Hamza Shehbaz leaves for London ahead of NA-120 by-poll: sources

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and nephew of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, left for London Tuesday morning ahead of the NA-120 by-election in Lahore, sources informed Geo News.

Speaking to the party’s core committee mandated to run the election campaign in the NA-120 by-poll, Hamza, an MNA from Lahore, said the party’s candidate, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, is like his own mother and he considers her election his own.

Hamza informed the party’s local leadership that he will monitor the NA-120 by-election campaign from abroad, further adding that the party workers should leave no stone unturned in ensuring victory in the upcoming by-poll.

Earlier reports suggested the PML-N chief removed his nephew as in-charge of NA-120 election campaign. According to sources, Nawaz had called a meeting in Jati Umrah where he asked federal minister Pervaiz Malik to take over as in-charge of the election campaign for his wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

Reportedly, Malik had asked Nawaz to let Hamza run the election campaign but his request was denied by the former prime minister.

Sources added that, after his removal, Hamza said that he is a political worker and would continue his political activities. However, later Hamza expressed his displeasure and signaled to his close confidants that he would leave the country during the election campaign.