Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his brother Nawaz Sharif will return to the country and become the PM for the fourth time leading the nation to progress and prosperity, reported local media outlet Dawn. He said Nawaz Sharif was the builder of modern Pakistan and during his reign, he eliminated energy shortages, laid down a network of roads, built infrastructure and developed agriculture, industry and other vital sectors of the economy. 


PM Shehbaz made the comments at the intra-party elections held during a general council meeting of the PML-N at the party’s secretariat where he was re-elected as president of the PML-N for four years. He said that the party post was temporary and would be given back to Nawaz Sharif upon his return to the country. 


"Nawaz Sharif will return from abroad to lead the country to progress and prosperity after becoming prime minister for the fourth time," he said while speaking here. Dawn reported that the general council was jointly chaired by PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif (online) and Shehbaz Sharif. 


The PML-N intra-party polls were due on March 22 last year, but the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) extended the date at the party’s request and allowed it to hold polls latest by May 14, 2022, and submit the related certificate by May 21 to meet the legal requirement to be eligible to obtain or retain a poll symbol, something the party failed to do even after the passage of over a year, Dawn reported according to sources in the ECP. 


PM Shehbaz said that he intentionally delayed the meeting of PML-N general council and intra-party polls as he was waiting for his elder brother Nawaz Sharif to return to the country so that the latter could take charge of the party again. 


In the intro-party polls, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz was elected senior vice president and chief organiser, while Ishaq Dar was elected president of overseas and international affairs.  


 Attacking those who criticise Dhar, Shehbaz said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was working hard to steer the country’s economy out of the present difficulties.  


“Those who were unduly criticising Ishaq Dar have no place in the party,” he said without naming anyone, as quoted by Dawn. 


He said that the Pakistan government met all the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for meeting the financial needs of the country. 


Accusing former PM and PTI chief Imran Khan of spreading lies, Shehbaz said that Khan uses false propaganda for his ulterior motives and to mislead people.  


As per a PTI report, Maryam Nawaz, who is considered the real heir of Nawaz Sharif, in her address said Shehbaz never made any decision without consulting his brother, highlighting their close partnership and the overarching role of the self-exiled former premier. 


She called her father the founder of modern Pakistan, adding "If nine years’ rule of Nawaz is excluded, nothing will be found except ruins in Pakistan," as quoted by Dawn. 


She also condemned the May 9 violence and said those responsible would be punished, reported PTI. 


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