LAHORE: To ascertain the point of view of opposition in giving political circumstances, US Charge d’Affairs Angela P. Aggeler held meetings with PML-N President Mian Shehbaz Sharif and party’s Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday but astonishingly separate.
The meeting with Shehbaz Sharif took place at Model Town while she met Maryam Nawaz at her Jati Umra residence. In her meeting with Mian Shehbaz Sharif which took place over lunch, the US diplomat exchanged views on the issues relating to regional peace with particular focus on the situation in Afghanistan, according to a brief press statement issued by party’s central Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb after the meeting.
Angela P Aggeler also acknowledged Shehbaz Sharif’s services as chief minister of the Punjab province as they talked about measures taken by the last PML-N government for economic development, war against terrorism and the steps to reduce power outages.
In the meeting with Maryam Nawaz, the US Consul General in Lahore William K Makaneole and Political Officer Khatija Corey also accompanied the American envoy. The dignitaries were received by Maryam Nawaz at her Jati Umra residence in Raiwind. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Former Planning Minister and PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, Pervez Rasheed, Khurram Dastgir, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Tariq Fatimi and Bilal Kiyani were also present in the meeting.
According to another press statement issued separately by the party’s spokesperson, matters of mutual interest, and issues relating to Pakistan-US ties, regional and international security, the situation in Afghanistan, women and children rights, health and education and ways to boost people- to-people interaction between the two countries was discussed in the meeting.
Maryam conveyed Nawaz Sharif’s felicitations to President Joe Biden over his election victory and goodwill from the people of Pakistan.
The party statement quoted Maryam Nawaz as telling the US Charge d’affaires that Mian Nawaz Sharif during his tenure held a policy of noninvasive foreign policy and pursued a pleasant relationship based on mutual trust, peace and development with Pakistan’s neighbours and the international community. “Pakistan considers Afghanistan as a close neighbouring country and respects its sovereignty and does not support any interference in its affairs”, Maryam said and added that PML-N wished a peaceful, developing and prosperous Afghanistan for the people, women and children of Pakistan.
Maryum further stated that entire world should contribute to the humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. “It is imperative that a congenial environment be created that would encourage the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their beloved motherland. Pakistan had sacrificed a lot in the war on terror. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif built the narrative against terrorism and united the nation against this menace”, the PML-N Vice-president said.
Meanwhile, Dawn newspaper reported US lagged despite the fact that both were in Lahore, Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz met separately surprised many in the party’s.
Earlier, when Javed Latif, a so-called loyal member of Maryam’s National Assembly, indirectly attacked Shahbaz Sharif on a private TV channel and called him an instrument of the establishment, there was a lot of talk of two ‘campuses’ within the PML-N. It happened.
The party had issued show cause notice to Javed Latif but could not take any action against him due to his loyalty to Maryam Nawaz. Interestingly, the central leadership of the PML-N met the US envoy at his residence in Jatiya Amira with Maryam Nawaz instead of Shahbaz Sharif.
The party leaders who accompanied Maryam Nawaz included senior vice president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, secretary general Ahsan Iqbal, senior leader Pervez Rashid, information secretary Maryam Aurangzeb, Khurram Dastgir and Tariq Fatemi.
After meeting Maryam and PML-N leaders, the US envoy met the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly at his residence in Model Town. When Dawn asked why the US envoy had a separate meeting with party leaders, party spokeswoman Maryam Aurangzeb did not respond.
A party insider told Dawn that Maryam Nawaz (the US ambassador) wanted to give the impression that she represented her father (Nawaz Sharif), who is the party’s supreme leader, so the party’s senior leadership Was with
The man said it could have been a joint meeting between Angela Eagler and Shahbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, but one leader chose another. US Consul General William McConnell and Political Officer East Corey accompanied the US Ambassador.
The two discussed issues of mutual interest, Pak-US relations, regional and international security, the situation in Afghanistan, women’s and children’s rights, health and education, and ways to enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by the PML-N, the US Ambassador commended Shahbaz Sharif for his services as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
On the other hand, Maryam Nawaz on behalf of her father congratulated US President Joe Biden on his election victory and expressed good wishes from the people of Pakistan.
He said that Nawaz Sharif, as the Prime Minister, had adopted a neutral foreign policy during his tenure and pursued cordial relations with Pakistan’s neighbours and the international community based on mutual trust, peace and development.
The PML-N said that the US ambassador acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror and claimed that he appreciated Maryam Nawaz’s efforts for women, children, media and human rights.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State met with Acting Punjab Governor Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Federal Minister for Water Resources Monis Elahi and PML-Q MNAs Salik Hussain and Hussain Elahi at the Governor House. During the meeting, bilateral relations, situation in Afghanistan and other issues of mutual interest were discussed.