Mobeen Ansari for Newsweek
Nawaz Sharif’s presumptive heir says PMLN has no intent to elect new prime minister if her father is disqualified by JIT
Maryam Nawaz, the presumptive heir of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has categorically rejected a recent news item alleging her party will elect a replacement prime minister if her father is disqualified from office.
“This is incorrect news. No one in the party even remotely suggested that,” she told Newsweek by phone. “I categorically reject this report because no party meeting has even discussed the possibility of nominating another prime minister,” she added.
Maryam said the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) was united behind her father and would not betray him. “Every member of the party has expressed faith in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s leadership. There is no doubt that he enjoys the trust of every leader and worker of the party. They are his true strength,” she added.
Earlier this week, a story had quoted an anonymous PMLN leader as claiming that if the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif, the party would seek to elect a new prime minister rather than calling for snap election. A joint investigation team appointed by the Supreme Court is currently investigating Sharif and his family to determine whether he is guilty of money laundering.