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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stepped down as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, sources said.

The news follows after PML-N Punjab leader Rana Sanaullah announced that Nawaz Sharif, who served as prime minister three times, will lead the party again.

Additionally, the PML-N central committee will meet in Lahore on May 18th at 11:30am, as per Article 15 of the party’s constitution. Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N’s Secretary General, has sent notifications about the meeting to the central committee members.

Nawaz resigned as prime minister in 2017 after the Supreme Court disqualified him for not disclosing a salary he was due to receive. In February 2018, the Supreme Court also disqualified Nawaz from leading the PML-N due to his involvement in the Panama Papers case. The court stated that someone disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 cannot head a political party. However, Nawaz returned from exile in London after four years in October last year.

On January 8, 2024, the Supreme Court lifted lifetime bans on convicted individuals running for office, allowing Nawaz to attempt a comeback in politics.

The PML-N, on May 7, held a meeting — chaired by the supremo — with its stalwarts in attendance to take important decisions about the party’s upcoming general council meeting scheduled to be held in May 11, 2024.

According to reports, during the meeting, it was decided to hold a new election for the party president position, and Nawaz has been chosen for this role. Khawaja Saad Rafique is set to be elected as the party’s secretary general. The decision to appoint Nawaz as president will be formally proposed in the upcoming general council meeting.

The PML-N in Punjab has all agreed to make Nawaz the party president. They want to keep government and party roles separate to improve organization and activity within the party.