The PML-N CWC also elected Nawaz Sharif as party's 'quaid for life.' PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq proposed Nawaz's elevation as 'quaid' for life, saying that "Mian Nawaz Sharif shall remain the leader of PML-N come what may". This proposal was followed by slogans of 'Wazir-e-Azam, Nawaz Sharif' and was endorsed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who said: "These are peoples' decisions. The courts have no right to take this decision." The meeting was held at the Sharif family's Model Town residence in Lahore which was attended by party leaders including National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana, Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Interior Minister Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal, Maryam Nawaz, Pervaiz Rasheed, Hamza Shehbaz, Asif Kirmani, Pir Sabir Shah and others. The meeting was called following a Supreme Court ruling ordering removal of Nawaz Sharif as PML-N chief.
PML-N senior leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, however, was not present in the meeting. His absence was strongly felt and triggered rumours about differences within the PML-N. The sources claimed that Ch Nisar was not invited to the meeting as Nawaz Sharif was not happy with Nisar after he openly opposed Nawaz's stance on the party's political strategy following the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict that ousted the former from holding public office.
The sources added that Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq insisted on participation of Nisar in the CWC. However, sources in the PML-N claimed that the issue between Nawaz and Nisar will be resolved with the efforts of Shahbaz Sharif.
Earlier, Nawaz Sharif proposed the name of Shahbaz Sharif as the acting president of PML-N and the House endorsed his name as party's acting president with a loud applause. Nawaz hugged Shahbaz and felicitated him on his election as acting president of the party.
Shahbaz is set to be elected as PML-N president in the general council meeting of the party which is scheduled to be held on March 6. Maryam Nawaz also walked up to the stage to congratulate her uncle Shahbaz. She also tweeted a picture of her father and uncle embracing one another. "We are Alhamdolillah one. We stand united. PML-N stands united," she tweeted.
While addressing the meeting, Nawaz Sharif expressed displeasure over the verdict of his disqualification as the party president, saying the court could have referred back the matter to the parliament for a review instead of declaring the act of parliament as illegal. He added that there were no dictators ruling the country at present but the decisions taking place were like the ones made during their regimes.
However, he said, the entire nation knew what happened with political leaders and parties. He was of the view that the verdicts of his disqualification were against the public will. The public elected him into power but there are "certain powers" that want the opposite to happen, Nawaz said. "I was elected as the prime minister thrice but was allowed to complete my term."
Nawaz said, "It is an irony that none of the elected prime minister has been able to complete his or her constitutional terms." He said, "We would take the party narrative to the court of people and would Inshaallah defeat our opponents." Nawaz said he wants to appreciate Shahbaz Sharif for the tremendous development work in his province. "Had there been no delay of 22 months, the Orange Line Metro Train would have been operational in Lahore," he said.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said, "Today is an important moment in his life. It is not an easy task to control the sentiments while holding the office of president of PML-N." He said he has closely watched his elder brother and leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif during the last 30 years, laying the foundations of PML-N and developing it as the largest and most popular political party with his hard work and collaboration of party followers and colleagues.
He said: "Pakistan is going through the most serious moments of its political life. Now I consider it as a good luck that we have the patronage of an experienced and farsighted political leader in the shape of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in these circumstances." According to him, there is nothing bigger honour for him that a leader of the stature of Nawaz Sharif has selected him for this post.
"The more I am thankful to Allah Almighty the less it would be that I have always been blessed with the guidance of my loving elder brother Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at every phase of my political life." Shahbaz Sharif said: "there is another gigantic challenge before us today. As the largest political party in the country, we have to play our role to further the political process. We have to ensure that the political process should result in shape of impartial, free and fair elections."
"We shall continue this process of development after winning the elections which is the hallmark of leadership of our leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. We have to fulfill this struggle aiming at ridding the country of poverty, ignorance and social evils. We will have to create lakhs of opportunities of honourable livelihoods so that our youth could live the life honorably. We have to continue the journey of bringing improvements in police system with speed to improve law and order and provision of justice to the people at their doorsteps," he said.