The PML-N on Saturday rubbished reports of rifts within the Sharif family, saying the opposition's wish of differences within the family will never be fulfilled.
The denial of earlier reports was made in a statement by the PML-N spokesperson. The statement also clarified that Pervaiz Malik will lead the election campaign in NA-120 as the president of PML-N's Lahore chapter.
“Maryam and Hamza will work alongside Pervaiz Malik, who will lead the election campaign as PML-N Lahore president,” said the spokesperson.
Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif, also rubbished rumours of any rift in the Sharif family and said those hoping for a rift will "bite the dust".
Earlier it was reported that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had removed his nephew, Hamza Shehbaz, as in-charge of NA-120 election campaign, informed sources told.
According to sources, Nawaz had called a meeting on Thursday in Jati Umrah where he asked federal minister Pervaiz Malik to take over as in-charge of the election campaign for his wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
Reportedly, Malik had asked Nawaz to let Hamza run the election campaign but his request was denied by the former prime minister.
Sources added that, after his removal, Hamza said that he is a political worker and would continue his political activities. However, later Hamza expressed his displeasure and signaled to his close confidantes that he would leave the country during the election campaign.
In what appeared to be a sign of apparent rifts within the Sharif family, Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif asked PML-N leaders to refrain from making statements against state institutions. Sources have claimed that the decision by the Punjab chief minister was taken unilaterally and Nawaz's approval was not sought in this regard.
Earlier this week, the returning officer approved nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Begum Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Yasmin Rashid, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Faisal Mir for the NA-120 (Lahore-III) by-election.
The NA-120 seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif as prime minister in Panama Papers case.
In the 2013 General Elections, Nawaz had won the seat by a substantial margin, defeating PTI’s Yasmin Rashid – who will be contesting for the seat this time around too.
By-election on the seat is scheduled for Sunday, September 17, 2017.
