ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed party senior leader and President of Punjab Rana Sanaullah as his political and public affairs adviser.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the Prime Minister’s advice and approved the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart as the premier’s adviser, a statement issued on Tuesday stated.
The statement, posted on the president’s official account on X, formerly Twitter, said that Sanaullah will hold the status of a federal minister.
“The president approved Rana Sanaullah Khan’s appointment on the prime minister’s advice under Article 93-1 of the Constitution,” the post stated.
Rana Sanaullah previously served as the interior minister during the previous government but was defeated in the general election 2024 for the National Assembly seat (NA-100) in Faisalabad.
Sanaullah’s appointment follows Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar being designated as deputy prime minister in addition to his existing post.
The former interior minister had recently hinted at the possibility of a role in the federal government.
During an interview with a private news channel, Sanaullah stated that Nawaz Sharif would decide on assigning a ministry to him after concluding his China visit.
These developments coincide with the politician’s announcement last week about PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s return to the ruling party’s helm, following his exoneration by the courts and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in multiple cases.
“Nawaz Sharif will resume leadership of the party, and the PML-N will progress under his guidance,” Sanaullah affirmed during an interaction with journalists in Lahore.
