Muhammad Zubair appointed spokesperson for Nawaz, Maryam | The Express Tribune

Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair has been appointed as the spokesperson for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, official party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb revealed in a statement on Monday.

According to a statement posted on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s official Twitter account, a spokespersons’ committee would also be formed under the guidance of the party’s primary spokesperson and central information secretary, Auguranzeb said.

She added that Dr Mussadiq Malik, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Talal Chaudhry, Uzma Bukhari and Ataullah Tarar would be part of the committee.

Zubair held his first press conference as spokesperson shortly after the announcement and criticised allegations made against the PML-N supremo by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill.

Gill had alleged that Nawaz was questioned about his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business partnership with Indian businessman Sajjan Jindal, which is the reason for Nawaz targetting the army. Gill had further claimed that Maryam Nawaz also had meetings with Indian officials recently.

During the conference, Zubair warned the provincial spokesperson and the PTI-led government that if the allegations levelled against Nawaz and Maryam were not retracted, then the party reserved the right to send them a legal notice.

The newly appointed spokesperson also said that recent events have highlighted the double standards of PTI. “Nawaz’s speeches cannot be aired because he is an absconder and has committed treason. However, Imran Khan was an absconder for 2.5 years in Islamabad when he was speaking from on top of containers and during that time Imran refused to go to court,” he added.

Zubair further said that despite being a target for over two years by the incumbent government, the PML-N remains strong.

When asked about PML-N’s relationship with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the former governor said that both parties have had their difference in the past but they are united now and their collective aim is to bring about the downfall of the PTI-led government.

Zubair’s appointment comes less than two weeks after the Pakistan Army disclosed that he had twice reached out to Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed political and legal woes of Nawaz and his daughter in the past few weeks.

“Gen Qamar Bajwa is an old friend and not only that I have met him many times as a friend but our families have also been meeting cordially over dinners etc. In my most recent meeting with him, economy, politics and, of course, Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, all came under discussion. No relief was ever requested,” Zubair said in a tweet last month.

In February 2017, Zubair became the 32nd Governor of Sindh after the then Sindh governor retired justice Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui passed away in January 2017. He later resigned from his post in July of 2018. He is also the brother of PTI leader Asad Umar.