LAHORE – Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has refused to attend the All Parties Conference, being hosted by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman on October 31, local media reported.
It appears that the former premier is avoiding PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who had expressed willingness to meet Nawaz during the APC, in a tit-for-tat move as the former had clearly refused to meet last year.
Maulana Fazl called on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader at his Jati Umra residence on Sunday to convince him to attend the APC. However, he could not woo the former premier for it, sources said.
A high-level delegation of the PML-N comprising Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz, senior PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid and others, will attend the Fazl’s APC.
Talking to media after the meeting, Fazl said that Nawaz will make a decision regarding the APC after consulting it with party chairman Shehbaz Sharif.
He said that there is no reason for Nawaz and Zardari to not sit together and discuss matters.
Fazl said that current political situation will be discussed in the meeting, adding that they are focusing now on the social and economic issues being faced by the public.
A day earlier, the JUI-F chief met Zardari where the latter agreed to attend the conference and also expressed willingness to meet the PML-N’s quaid.
Local media, citing sources, claimed that Nawaz does not want to hold a one-on-one meeting with Zardari as he has reservations over PPP’s role following the 2018 General Elections.
