Sharif faces flak as political parties seek answers for his ‘U-turn’

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani political leaders are still grappling with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s last minute ‘U-turn’ over the constitutional reforms package and are trying to find out as to what exactly had prompted Sharif for his sudden move.

Sharif had demanded that a “consensus” be reached before tabling the package in Parliament, despite his party’s proposals on the appointment of judges to superior courts being already incorporated in the document.

Leaders cutting across party lines are now demanding an explanation from Sharif with some even bringing into question his sincerity to the reforms process.

According to sources, a large number of PML-N parliamentarians have expressed dismay over the unexpected change in the stance of their party leader, and “they have registered their discontent with the party leadership”.

Talking to reporters here, Interior Minister Rehman Malik suggested that Sharif might have been under ’some pressure’ to take the move, but added that the ‘PML-N chief would able to give a better explanation.’

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s senior leader, Marvi Memon, blasted Sharif describing him as a ’spoiler’.

“The PML-N chief has a habit of messing up things at the very last moment… and that was exactly what he has intended to do with the constitutional reforms package… he has always been a spoiler,” The Daily Times quoted Memon, as saying.

Awami National Party (ANP) Senior Vice President Senator Haji Adil described Sharif’s U-turn as a “drone attack.”

Insiders said that while both Senator Ishaq Dar and Sharif had assured Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that they would not create any hurdles in the way of the reforms package, however, a phone call by “certain quarters” prompted the former premiere to change the script of his speech during the press conference in which he back tracked.

“Nawaz was warned by those quarters that his own future, his brother’s future and the entire PML-N’s future would be in jeopardy,” sources said. (ANI)