Nawaz Sharif Nominates His Brother As Successor

By Asif Farouqi, IOL Islamabad Correspondent

Sharif relinquished the charge of his party

ISLSMABAD, August 3 (IslamOnline) - Exiled Pakistani former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif relinquished the charge of his party on Saturday July 3, 2002, formally bringing his political career to an end.

Nawaz Sharif, who is living in Saudi Arabia along with his family where he was sent into exile after being overthrown by the head of the army, Perves Musharraf, in October 1999, nominated his younger brother as his successor.

Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) during the party polls, elected Shahbaz Sharif as the party president. Younger Sharif did not have any contestants for the post.

“We have elected Shahbaz Sharif as the president of the party as Nawaz Sharif was rendered unqualified for the post under new law” Mushahidullah Khan, vice president of the party told IslamOnline.

Nawaz Sharif has been nominated as “Quaid” (leader) of the party, Khan said. This would be a ceremonial office without any active political role.

The Military government of General Pervez Musharraf had promulgated a new law just three days back prohibiting the convicts and absconders to be office bearers of any political party. 

Nawaz Sharif was convicted with a life term in jail by a high court for his alleged role in plot to kill General Pervez Musharraf and abrogating the constitution in October 1999. He was allowed to leave the country with all his family after a deal was reached between the military government and the former rulers in November 2000.

Analysts believe popularity graph of the former Prime Minister was on the rise as his party was proving to be a real opposition to the military regime. 

“Although the government claimed the Sharif family would not come back to this country for another ten years under the agreement duly signed by Nawaz Sharif himself and to which the Saudi Arabian government was a guarantor, people in the country always felt that the former ruler will come back to fight the military regime” said Saud Sahir, a veteran journalist and analyst.

Saturday’s election of the party established that Nawaz Sharif has no role to play in the Pakistani politics at least for another decade. Instead his younger brother will come back and take part in the election process.

Shahbaz, one time chief minister of Punjab province, is known for his links in the army. He is said to have personal friendship with some of the top generals including General Pervez Musharraf. It is also believed that it was this younger brother on whose insistence then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed General Pervez Musharraf as the army chief, superceding two senior generals.

During Saturday’s extra ordinary session of the party top leadership, it was decided that the party would take part in the general elections scheduled for October this year. It also brought about some changes in the constitution of the party. One of the amendments makes the party chairman as the formal head instead of the president. This means although Shahbaz would be the party president, number one man in the party would be veteran Raja Zafar ul Haq.

Surrender of Nawaz Sharif as head of the largest opposition party brings to an end another potential threat to President Musharraf who always felt uncomfortable over the rumors that Nawaz Sharif was forming an anti-Musharraf alliance with another former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan Peoples Party, also living in exile in London.

Bhutto, after being elected chairperson of her party last week, had expressed resolve to return to the country to oppose the military government and the President. It was reported by some papers that she and Nawaz Sharif would come back on the same plane to launch a campaign against the President.   

War on Iraq.. World Reaction Pakistan & India.. Military Balance Jenin: World testimonies Israeli Operation Defensive Shield Palestine: Maps and Facts Israeli Crimes in Nablus US Seeks To Split Sudan: Egyptian Press Iraq's UN Inspectors Offer Came Under Russian Pressure New Turkish Chief Of Staff Amid Threat of U.S. Strike On Iraq Investors Remain Shaky Despite Assurances From U.S. Officials  Deadly West Nile Virus Threatens U.S. As Four People Die, 88 Infected New Online Payment Solution Avoids Riba, Enhances E-Commerce 360 Killed, 320 Missing In Wartorn Chechnya Since January India’s Politicians Close Ranks To Derail Poll Reforms Nawaz Sharif Nominates His Brother As Successor  U.S. Seeks to Reduce Military Presence in Sinai, Pentagon Report: Ex-Costa Rican Leader Likens Israel to South African Apartheid  Thousands Rally In Indonesia for Islamic Law Saudi, Iran Repeat Opposition to U.S. Strike on Iraq Remains in Srebrenica Grave Hit 207, New Mass Ground Found UN Building in Southern Afghanistan Under Attack  Clinton: I’d Get In a Ditch, Grab A Rifle And Die For Israel U.S.-ASEAN Anti-Terrorism Pact May Threaten Human Rights: Watchdog Turkey Passes Taboo-Breaking Reforms to Come Closer to EU U.S. Senate Passes Defense Appropriations Budget U.S. Federal Judge Says Names of Sept. 11 Detainees Must Be Released Nablus Standstill As Israeli Army Collectively Punish Residents Canadian Terror Suspect Extradited to United States Russia, France Welcome Iraqi Move, Britain, U.S. Skeptical Yesterday's News Search Articles      News Archive : Day: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31     Month: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12   Year: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999