According to local media reports, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has threatened to resign from the party leadership after his election strategy for AJK was neglected, culminating in the party’s heavy defeat.
Despite having ruled the region for five years, the PML-N came in third place in the July 25 elections for Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf winning the most seats and the PPP coming in second with 11 seats.
Maryam Nawaz, Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, led the party’s campaign in AJK, holding many rallies that drew enormous crowds. However, the party only managed to secure six seats out of a total of 45.
Read more: PTI set to form next AJK govt after clinching most seats
According to the reports, Shehbaz Sharif is furious that his political approach for AJK is being ignored and has threatened to resign as party president.
However, sources within the PML-N have neither denied nor confirmed the news, but political insiders claim that Hamza Shahbaz, the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, has reportedly prevented his father from stepping down.
Hamza had reportedly said that he will take up the matter with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is staying in London since 2019.
“Hamza has informed Shahbaz that he will discuss this with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.”
Maryam Nawaz is also expected to be inactive for at least a year, according to reports.
Senior PML-N leaders, including chairperson Raja Zafarul Haq, secretary-general Ahsan Iqbal, spokesperson Marriuym Aurangzeb, and Ata Tarrar, did not commented anything on the inside story.
