Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has dismissed speculations that an ‘unseen power’ or his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif hindered Nawaz Sharif’s return to the Prime Minister’s Office. In a recent interview on Geo News’ ‘Geo Pakistan’ program, Siddiqui asserted that Nawaz Sharif’s path to premiership was not obstructed by any external forces or his own brother.
Siddiqui stated that he had sensed a lack of desire from Nawaz Sharif to assume the Prime Minister’s position for a fourth term during their meetings prior to the 2024 general elections. He refuted media reports suggesting that Nawaz Sharif was impatient to regain the premiership, emphasizing that even if Nawaz had expressed a 1% desire to become Prime Minister, no power could have prevented him.
Siddiqui stressed that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif became Prime Minister for the second time after the party nominated him when Nawaz decided against running for the post. He attributed this decision to Nawaz’s reluctance to lead a weak coalition government amidst the prevailing economic crises.
Despite Nawaz Sharif not assuming the Prime Minister’s role, Siddiqui clarified that the current government is still a PML-N and Nawaz Sharif government, as he continues to provide input on various matters, including cabinet appointments and economic recovery. He denied any conspiracy against Nawaz Sharif within the party, stating that such a conspiracy would only exist if Nawaz had a burning desire for power and was unable to achieve it.
Siddiqui highlighted that some within PML-N believe the party needs a full-time president, which may lead to Nawaz Sharif reassuming the party’s top post. He acknowledged that there is an opinion within the party that political positions should be separated from government ones. He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s focus on fulfilling his responsibilities for the country’s economic recovery has limited his time to run the party, and a decision regarding the party’s presidency would be made in the coming months.
