LONDON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with the former prime minister and Quaid Pakistan Muslim League(N) Nawaz Sharif here on Sunday and exchanged views on different matters. The meeting continued for about four years. A meeting between the two leaders will also be held today (Monday) after the attending of Shehbaz Sharif in Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
According to the informed sources, three very important subjects including the flood devastations, holding the next election, appointment of new Army chief and change of provincial government in Punjab were discussed in details.
The sources confidentially informed ‘The Nation’ that as the issue of appointment of next Army chief was very touchy and significant, hence was discussed in a separate meeting attended by only three leaders Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar. Also keeping it in confidence, nothing was said on this subject to waiting and enthusiastic journalists.
It was decided after detailed discussion that next election will be held on time and no pressure would be accepted in this regard. Furthermore, present government will complete its constitutional tenure.
It was also agreed in principal that the change in Punjab government is vital for the political stability not only in Punjab but in whole country. Hamza Sharif and few other names were taken under consideration for next chief ministership.
Talking to journalists, Shehbaz Sharif said that the friendly countries were extending assistance for the flood affectees.
He said the relief goods were arriving on airplanes, trains, and ships, adding people of Pakistan were also giving donations and the federal and provincial governments were performing their roles in the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.
The coalition government had allocated Rs 70 billion and was giving Rs 25000 each to the affected families, through the Benazir Income Support Programme, he informed.
Shehbaz Sharif said the government was providing clean water, food, tents and other essential items to the flood victims through national and provincial disaster management authorities. “The whole nation and the armed forces are helping the flood affectees”.
Khawaja Asif on Army Chief issue
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said that the process to appoint the army chief would be similar to what has been practised over the years.
“The process [for the army chief’s appointment] will start two to three weeks before [the incumbent’s retirement] as is traditionally done in the past,” he told reporters in London in a video aired by DawnNewsTV.
“I must say that the chief’s loyalty is with the country and he is not under any politician.” Secondly, he also has his loyalty to his institution, he added.
“He is the one who commands 700,000 officers who are ready to give their life on his call. His position and personality should not be made a part of any controversy — a political controversy”.
Asif’s remarks come amid intensifying speculation on the future army chief, a process that has entered the political discourse of late due to ousted prime minister Imran Khan — who has claimed that the coalition goverment wants its “preferred” military chief to “escape graft cases”, a statement drew flak from the military and government.
More recently, Khan has suggested deferring the chief’s appointment until after the elections, a move which is being seen by ministers as an attempt to mend fences with the military establishment.
The defence minister also told reporters in London that he would prefer Nawaz Sharif to come home immediately. However, he added that it should be ensured that the PML-N supremo should be granted justice for the injustices he faced back home, he added.
The minister said his government was not “running away” from elections. “We want polls to be held under the Constitution and the law.”
Asif said Imran Khan had been giving similar statements when he had just one seat in the parliament.
Arrival in London
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday arrived here to attend state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II. Pakistan High Commissioner Moazzam Ahmed Khan, David Gordon-MacLeod, Special Representative of the British Foreign Secretary and other officials received the Prime Minister at the airport.
At the invitation of the British government, the prime minister, during his visit to the United Kingdom, will represent Pakistan at the state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II in London on September 19, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.
After the stay in the United Kingdom, the PM will leave for the United States to participate in the high-level debate of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth will take place at 11:00 BST on Monday, 19 September. It will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, the historic church where Britain’s kings and queens are crowned.
The ceremony is expected to draw to a close just before noon when the Last Post – a short bugle call – will be played. A two-minute national silence will follow.
Shehbaz to address UNGA on Sep 23
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sep 23 with his speech focusing on climate-induced catastrophic floods in the country, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on Sunday.
According to the FO, PM Shehbaz will participate in the UNGA high-level debate in New York from September 19-23.
The premier’s speech at the UNGA will focus on challenges faced by Pakistan in wake of the recent climate-induced catastrophic floods in the country.
“The prime minister will outline concrete proposals for collectively tackling the existential threat posed by climate change,” the statement said.
The statement added that the premier will also share “Pakistan’s position and perspective on regional and global issues of concern, including Jammu and Kashmir”.
Further, the premier will participate in the Global Food Security Summit jointly organised by the African Union, European Union, and the United States, and a closed-door leaders gathering on COP27 bringing together select world leaders to discuss climate change.
On the sidelines, the prime minister will hold a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries, president of the General Assembly, the UN secretary general as well as heads of international organisations, international financial institutions and philanthropic organisations, the FO said.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb will accompany the prime minister during his trip alongside other senior officials.
According to the FO, the PM’s participation in the UNGA Session was a manifestation of Pakistan’s abiding commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role in international affairs for promoting peace and prosperity worldwide.
This year’s General Assembly is particularly significant because this will be the first in-person summit of world leaders at the United Nations since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 sessions were converted into virtual meetings because of the Covid-19 pandemic.