Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday said he has no contact with the PML-N supremo, Nawaz Sharif, and there is no need for even him [Nawaz] to do so.
The senior politician’s comment came while speaking with journalists outside an accountability court in Islamabad. The PML-N stalwart also reiterated that he won’t be contesting the upcoming general elections which are scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.
“I am not contesting elections, I have said it 100 times,” Abbasi said.
The ex-PM has repeatedly spoken about not partaking in the upcoming polls. His decision in this regard is notable since he stepped down from the party office soon after the appointment of Maryam Nawaz as its senior vice president and chief organiser last year.
However, he rejected reports claiming differences with the party leadership. Abbasi said that he had resigned as the party’s senior vice president to give Maryam an “open field”.
In an interview with a foreign channel, Abbasi said: “I am not contesting elections as I do not want to be part of the possible fault [that could emerge] after the election.”
In his media interaction today, Abbasi also raised questions over the level playing field available to political parties ahead of the February 8 general elections, saying the “similar level playing field” was available when the PTI came to power following 2018 elections dubbed by PML-N and other parties as “rigged”.
