LAHORE – Former Punjab minister Rana Mashhood on Tuesday explained his position over his statement over the ‘improving ties’ between the establishment and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) owing to the efforts of party president, Shehbaz Sharif, saying his statement was quoted ‘out of context’.
The clarification of former provincial Education minister comes after his party distanced itself from his statement.
Earlier today, in an interview to a private television channel, the PML-N leader expressed that the establishment was saddened as Shehbaz Sharif was not able to become the chief executive of the country.
“The TV channel twisted my statement,” Mashhood said and added he was trying to contact with the management of the channel.
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Mashhood, believed to be a close confidant of the ex-Punjab CM, credited the former Punjab chief minister for ‘settling matters with establishment’ while claiming that his party was in a position to form a government in Punjab within a span of two months.
Hamza Shehbaz would be PML-N’s candidate for the post of Punjab chief minister, he added.
On a query regarding the conduct of Maryam Nawaz and former premier Nawaz Sharif, the former minister expressed that the tone of the duo would remain a bit harsh until ‘things are fully settled’.
Rana Mashood had been the member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from 2002 to May 2018. He served as the deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly from 2008 to 2013.
The PML-N spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, said the party leadership distanced themselves from Mashhood’s claims terming them as his ‘personal opinion’.
“Rana Mashhood’s statement has nothing to do with the PML-N or its leadership,” she said.
She further added that the party has sought explanation from the former minister over his statement.
Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has rejected Mashhood’s claims terming it ‘non-serious’.
The controversial statement follows the release of Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryum Nawaz, who were sent to Adiala jail for corruption, after the Islamabad High Court granted them bail.
