Sharif may be re-elected as PML-N chief

Islamabad Sep 30 (IANS) Ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to be re-elected as the president of his PML-N party next week under a new proposed law that will allow a disqualified lawmaker to take over reins of a political party.

Sharif had to step down as the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after the apex court in its July 28 verdict disqualified him in the Panama Papers scandal. The former premier s way to the presidency of his party was paved amid much uproar when during a September 22 session of Upper House of the Parliament (Senate) an amendment in the Election Bill 2017 was okayed by a single vote allowing a disqualified legislator to head a political party Dawn online reported. The new law will be presented in the Lower House on Monday for fresh votes on the Senate s amendments. It is expected to be passed easily as the ruling party has a majority in the house. After getting clearance from both the houses the bill would go to President Mamnoon Hussain s desk for endorsement thus making it a law. The PML-N will hold a general council meeting of the party on October 2 to amend the party constitution that also barred a disqualified person from holding any party office said Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan. Before the General Council a meeting of PML-N central working committee (CWC) will be held. The second session would be held on October 3 to elect a new party president added Khan. Khan who is also PML-N s central information secretary said that "all legal hurdles in the way of Sharif re-assuming his role as party chief would be removed by October 3". The third-time ousted premier had to relinquish the top slot of the party after the Supreme Court disqualified him from office for concealing employment with a UAE-based firm owned by his younger son Hassan. Khan added that in the meantime Sharif would continue to appear before court(s) in the National Accountability Bureau references. A NAB court has summoned the former Prime Minister on October 2 to indict him in three graft cases. --IANS soni/vm