ISLAMABAD -CM Shahbaz Sharif has taken a first major decision after takingover the command of the PML N.

Shehbaz Sharif has deferred the formation of the Parliamentary Board of theparty and decided to first fill the top party slots.

These top positions include five senior vice-presidents, the centralsecretary general and finance secretary of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The process of filling these slots would be announced soon as the generalelections are around the corner and formation of parliamentary board couldnot be delayed any further. The whole exercise would need to be completedin the next couple of weeks.

Selection of people for the top slots would show how the new presidentwould run party affairs. They said the composition of parliamentary boardwould also show Shehbaz’s grip on party affairs.

The sources said there was tacit divide in the party with a very stronggroup toeing the policies and narrative of Nawaz Sharif and his daughterMaryam Nawaz, while on the other hand some senior party leaders were of theview that instead of treading a confrontational course the party shouldavoid direct clash with the state institutions.

They said that appointment of senior vice-presidents, general secretary andother top office bearers would show whether hawks would be calling theshots in the party or the doves would overpower them and dilute theaggressive and hard-hitting position taken by Nawaz and Maryam.

A senior party parliamentarian desiring not to be named said that so farShehbaz Sharif was cautiously moving, and Nawaz and his daughter stillseemed dominating the party.

He said that although Shehbaz was holding the top position in the party butall the meetings for the recently held Senate elections were chaired byNawaz Sharif, who being the “Quaid for life” was still all-powerful figurein PML-N and taking all key decisions.

Sources in the party said a very strong group within the party was directlyworking under Maryam Nawaz and taking directions from her, so the freshappointments in the party’s top hierarchy would show whether the Maryamgroup would get some major share in the top positions or it would besidelined by the new party chief.

They said that till the time Nawaz was playing an active role in politicsin whatever position, it would be extremely difficult for Shehbaz to makeany major impact on the functioning of the party and take the key decisions.

Shehbaz is in total disagreement with his elder brother on dealing with thejudiciary and other state institutions, and he has so far failed toconvince Nawaz of the utility of his point of view and persuade him to playhumble.