Islamabad: Pakistan’s new Prime Minister ShahidKhaqanAbbasi on Wednesday met Nawaz Sharif to “consult” him before finalizing his Cabinet, the state media reported.
The two met at Sharif’s private residence in the hill resort of Murree near Islamabad where Sharif has been staying since he vacated the official residence two days ago after the Supreme Court disqualified him over the Panama Papers scandal.
Shahbaz Sharif, who will take over from Abbasi after he is elected to the National Assembly, was also present during the meeting, the Pakistan TV reported.
Abbasi, a die-hard Nawaz Sharif loyalist, was on Tuesday elected as the interim prime minister by the National Assembly. He was later sworn in by President Mamnoon Hussain.
Abbasi has said that Sharif may have been disqualified by the Supreme Court but remains the “people’s premier”. He has praised Sharif’s leadership and criticized opposition parties for accusing him of corruption.
“Justice demands that 1,000 guildies are set free than one innocent is convicted,” Abbasi said. “It is my firm belief that Nawaz Sharif will return to the seat of Premiership,” he said.
