Shehbaz's absence from party meeting raises eyebrows.

LAHORE -- The absence of PML-N President Mian Shehbaz Sharif from a party meeting held in Lahore on Wednesday raised eyebrows with many interpreting it as a sign of a deepening rift within the party which apparently seems divided between the reactionaries and those advocating for a conciliatory approach towards political issues. Addressed by party Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif through video link, this meeting took place at the party's central secretariat, 180-H Model Town, Lahore. It was attended among others by party's Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, Parvez Rashid, Rana Sana Ullah, Azma Zahid Bokhari and Nuzhat Sadiq. It was a reorganisational meeting regarding DG Khan division. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz and Khawaja Mohammad Asif and a few others were conspicuous by their absence. Shehbaz Sharif's absence from this meeting was noted by many observers as a significant development in the wake of an obvious difference of opinion in the party's top hierarchy about its strategy to deal with the country's Establishment.

A section of opinion in the PML-N led by Mian Shehbaz Sharif is an ardent advocate of making reconciliation with the Establishment to secure its share of the cake. This group believes that it would not be rational to challenge the established order as the same could push it to political bewilderment for good.

Hamza, Kh Asif, few others conspicuous by their absence

The other group led by Mian Nawaz Sharif and her daughter Maryam Nawaz consists of reactionaries who are not ready to compromise on principles while dealing with the Establishment. They call themselves...