Questions raised as Nawaz Sharif chairs Punjab govt meetings

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, recently made a conspicuous appearance by chairing three administrative meetings of the Punjab government, raising many eyebrows as he holds no official position in either the provincial or federal government.

The three-time former premier on Monday chaired administrative meetings of the Punjab government led by his daughter Maryam Nawaz, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The 74-year-old senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), who is currently just a National Assembly member, has kept his distance from public since February 8 general elections.

According to an official handout issued after the meeting, Nawaz Sharif issued directions to ministers and officials regarding different infrastructure projects, including the underground train and metro bus, farmers’ plight, electric bikes for students and Ramzan relief package, it said.

It is widely believed that the PML-N head is the one calling the shots on all major decisions despite having no official role in the province. Questions are being raised over how Nawaz Sharif, could preside over the Punjab government’s meetings and issue directions.

His daughter and Punjab CM in reply to a question about why Nawaz’s face adorns the bag in which ration is distributed to the needy under the Ramazan relief package, she said: “Because it is Nawaz Sharif’s government,” the report said.

Maryam Nawaz, 50, is the first woman chief minister in Pakistan's history and is considered to be the political heir of Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz was set to become Pakistan's prime minister for a record fourth time in last month's general elections, but his party failed to get the majority seats in the National Assembly to form a government on its own.

Maximum number of seats were won by independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

However, Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz’s younger brother, who is also considered a favorite of the military establishment, managed to form a coalition federal government with the help of five other parties, including ex-foreign minister Bilawal Zardari-Bhutto led Pakistan Peoples Party.