LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Donald Blome and UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott held separate meetings with PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.
The meetings took place at Jati Umra’s residence of Nawaz Sharif.
Both diplomats discussed the new political landscape in Pakistan in the wake of upcoming elections in the country on Feb 8, 2023.
Blome visited Nawaz at his residence in Jati Umra for the meeting, which purportedly had Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz’s daughter, in attendance as well.
The discourse during the meeting revolved around Pakistan’s political scenario and topics of mutual interest.
This meet-up with Blome swiftly followed a visit by British Ambassador Jane Marriott to Nawaz and Maryam in Lahore.
Nawaz, who returned to the country in October after four years abroad, has been gradually stepping up his political involvement. While he hasn’t addressed a public gathering since the large-scale rally on his arrival day, he’s been engaging with politicians, reinforcing his party’s strength, and gearing up for the upcoming elections.
Apart from announcing an alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the PMLN has also been actively welcoming influential figures into its fold. Notably, more than 30 leaders from Balochistan have joined the party recently.
UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott met Nawaz Sharif on Nov 16. Maryam Nawaz welcomed the High Commissioner Janes Marriott. Maryan also shared a clip of Janet Marriot when she received her in Lahore.
Maryam Nawaz said that the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, paid a courtesy call to PML (N)’s Quaid, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, on Thursday 16 November 2023.
Warmly welcoming the British High Commissioner, the PML(N) Quaid spoke of Pakistan’s historic relations with Great Britain that have grown into one of Pakistan’s most important trade, economic, and investment ties.
The former Prime Minister also recalled his warm and cordial relations with many British leaders, going back to Prime Minister John Major, with whom he had the pleasure of playing cricket on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Summit, in Harare in October 1991.
Mr. Nawaz Sharif also requested BHC to convey his facilitations on the birthday of King Charles III Mr. Nawaz Sharif also spoke of his pleasure at the return of former Prime Minister David Cameron to the Foreign Office, recalling that he had great respect for the former Prime Minister, who had been the first foreign leader to visit him, only weeks after he had been sworn into Office in June 2013.
Ambassador Jane Marriott thanked the former Prime Minister for the many initiatives he had taken over the past years to enhance relations between the two countries, especially in areas related to health, education, and governance. She expressed great pleasure at having been appointed as British Ambassador to Pakistan, reiterating that it had always been her desire to experience firsthand the rich culture and fascinating history of this country.
Pointing out that the U.K was Pakistan’s largest trade and investment partner in Europe, the former Prime Minister expressed concern that there has been a declining trend in recent years in Britain’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for Pakistan.
He urged the British Government to raise the level of its developmental assistance and also expand DFID’s cooperation with concerned governmental and nongovernmental partners in Pakistan. He expressed the hope that with the Ambassador’s efforts, the British assistance Programme would be enhanced at an early date. 7.Finally, the Quaid urged the British Government to play a positive and meaningful role in ensuring an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, pointing out that thousands of Palestinians, including, women, children and old people, had been killed on account of Israel’s indiscriminate, round-the-clock ground and air attacks on Palestinians homes, schools and hospitals.
