Senior leaders of Pakistan’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) gathered in Murree on Monday for a high-level strategy session focused on upcoming by-elections, delayed local body polls in Punjab, and the overall performance of the federal and provincial governments.
The meeting, held at party president Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Murree’s Jhika Gali, was co-chaired by the former prime minister and his brother, current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz were also in attendance, alongside prominent party figures including federal ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Azam Nazir Tarar, Dr. Tauqeer Shah, and Ameer Muqam; Senator Pervaiz Rashid; former ministers Khawaja Saad Rafique and Murtaza Javed Abbasi; Anusha Rehman; and retired Capt. Muhammad Safdar.
According to party officials, the discussions reviewed Pakistan’s political and economic landscape, candidate selection for upcoming by-polls, and preparations for the long-delayed local government elections in Punjab. Rana Sanaullah, PML-N’s Punjab president, said suitable candidates for by-elections would be finalized once the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announces the schedule. He added that legal amendments on delimitations were needed before holding local body polls.
The by-elections follow the disqualification of 12 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers—eight from the National Assembly and four from the Punjab Assembly—after convictions related to the May 9, 2023 unrest. Additionally, the NA-129 seat in Lahore became vacant after the death of former governor Mian Azhar. While PTI founder Imran Khan has announced a boycott of most by-polls, the party is expected to field Hammad Azhar, son of the late Mian Azhar, in NA-129.
Sanaullah said the PML-N was not taking PTI’s boycott announcement at face value. “We have information that PTI is not boycotting the by-poll, therefore, it featured in the meeting,” he noted.
The gathering also touched on governance coordination between the federal and Punjab administrations. Reports of a rift between Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over a local bureaucrat’s arrest were dismissed by both sides. “Maryam Nawaz is like a daughter to me. She is our future leader. I pray for her like my own daughter,” Asif said in a statement on X.
Separately, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari warned PTI against staging protests on Pakistan’s Independence Day, August 14, accusing the party of attempting to create unrest. “The law will take its course if anyone tries to stage violent protest,” she said, urging PTI to call off its plans.
The Murree huddle marked one of the largest gatherings of PML-N heavyweights in recent months, underscoring the party’s push to consolidate its position ahead of a potentially contentious election season.
