Our leader is Nawaz, after him Shehbaz: Saad Rafique

KARACHI: Senior Pakistan Muslim League ? Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Tuesday said that the party's only leader is Nawaz Sharif. ?Our leader is Nawaz, and after him Shehbaz,? Rafique said while talking on Geo News? programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath. He emphasised that the two brothers are two sides of the same coin. Responding to a question about rumours about the party?s leadership, Rafique said that there is ?no question about Nawaz?s leadership? in the party. ?Hamza Shehbaz and Maryam Nawaz are our younger brother and sister and the two of them have their own political struggles, but they are not our political leaders,? he said, adding that only Nawaz Sharif holds the power to give direction and narrative to the party. Discussing the PML-N's prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming general elections, Rafique said that if Nawaz remains to be legally barred to hold public office, Shehbaz could prove to be a ?very capable prospect.? ?The future PML-N prime ministerial candidate shall be decided when the time comes,? he said, ?Nobody has worked for the country in the past 70 years the way Shehbaz has, and he can prove to be a very capable candidate.? The minister also refuted the rumours of the party resorting to taking revenge from 'institutions. "Our party has never declared that it shall take revenge for the unfair behaviour toward the party," he said. ?The PML-N has never clashed [with the institutions] and nor will it do so because it is not in the best interests of Pakistan,? Rafique insisted. ?We shall hold on to patience and pass through this [turmoil].? He said that the 'unfair behaviour' is not a new trend and it has continued for a long time but speaking up against it isn?t wrong. ?Our fight isn?t personal, it is based on principals.? Rafique stressed that the PML-N had never resorted to hatching conspiracies, levelling allegations or defaming ?others,? but it shall raise its voice through constitutional channels. ?Addressing our supporters in our constituencies is our fundamental right and there is nothing wrong with speaking to our voters,? the PML-N leader insisted.