ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet members on Wednesday briefed the ruling party supremo Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan’s political and economic crises during an “emergency meeting” in London wherein they also discussed ways of overcoming various challenges confronting the country.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement that another round of talks would be held on Thursday before finalizing any strategy.
“The final announcement will be made tomorrow to steer the country out of its economic and constitutional crises,” the minister said in a statement.
Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif (center right), Nawaz Sharif (center left) and cabinet ministers hold a meeting in London, UK, on May 11, 2022. (Social media)
PM Sharif’s visit to London, at a time of serious political and economic problems in Pakistan, has sparked widespread criticism, with many experts and critics commenting it was not appropriate for a PM to embark on a private visit to deal with party matters.
The information minister said that Nawaz Sharif was informed about the prevailing economic position of the country.
“The government team informed [Sharif] that petroleum prices haven’t been increased to save the public from additional burden of inflation,” she said.
PML-N party head Nawaz Sharif (right) and Pakistan's information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb (second right) pose for a picture in London, England, on May 11, 2022. (Marriyum Aurangzeb)
Aurangzeb, who is part of the delegation in London, said different recommendations were reviewed to provide relief to the people.
“The government team presented their opinions about future strategies in light of the current economic position,” she said, adding that the country’s overall political situation also came under discussion.
“It was agreed unanimously in the meeting to deal with constitution violators as per the law,” she added.
The minister said a strategy would be approved on Thursday to steer the country out of its multiple crises.
Nawaz, then PM, was found guilty in 2017 on charges of concealing assets related to the Panama Papers revelations. The supreme court ordered him removed from office and he was subsequently jailed. In November 2019, he left Pakistan to seek medical treatment in London after being granted bail but has since not returned.
Several federal ministers including Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Ministers Khawaja Saad Rafique, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan were also present to attend the meeting in London with Nawaz.
