Lahore: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif “smartly deprived” his younger brother Shahbaz an opportunity to become Prime Minister because of “family politics” despite nominating the Punjab Chief Minister as his eventual successor, according to some PML-N leaders.
After his disqualification in the Panama Papers case on July 28 Mr Nawaz had announced that Mr Shahbaz would be PM for the remaining 10-month tenure of the party after interim arrangements of 45-day for which Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was elected premier.
In interviews, some PML-N leaders said they are of the view that Mr Shahbaz is made to miss a “golden opportunity” to succeed his elder brother as there has been no guarantee that he will get the same chance in 2018 in case PML-N wins the election as more players from the elder Sharif family will be there in the race for the top slot. A top PML-N leader said: “Sharif told his brother he couldn’t take chances. He fears Shahbaz will take control of the party once he becomes premier and will also hand over Punjab province to his son Hamza.”
