PML-N delegation excluding Nawaz, Shehbaz to attend opposition APC

By
Arshad Waheed Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation excluding Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif will attend the All Parties Conference (APC) called by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The decision of the Sharifs’ not attending the APC was taken when Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif met former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his chambers in Parliament House on Tuesday. The meeting was also attended by senior party leaders Raja Zafarul Haq, Hamza Shehbaz, Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Asif.

During the meeting, it was decided that the PML-N delegation led by Haq would attend the APC and the party would work with the opposition on issues of national importance. 

Shehbaz Sharif hugs brother Nawaz Sharif as they meet at Parliament House  

Earlier, as Nawaz arrived at the Parliament House, Shehbaz received him and the two met each other briefly after which the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president went to attend the National Assembly session. 

Shehbaz was brought to the federal capital by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials a day earlier to attend the session of the Lower House after NA Speaker Asad Qaiser issued his production orders. 

The PML-N president has been in NAB's custody since October 5 in connection to the Ashiana Iqbal Housing scheme case. 

Shehbaz and Zardari entered the National Assembly together for Monday's session and held a brief talk. The PML-N president and Zardari have agreed to cooperate on national issues, sources said regarding their brief meeting. 

The two agreed upon a working relationship and also decided on a joint strategy to deal with problems the country is currently facing, sources added. Sources further said that the two have agreed to back each other in the parliament as well.

However, sources said, there was no discussion related to Nawaz 's meeting with Zardari.

On Sunday, sources had said that Nawaz will not attend the APC hosted by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman.