Those privy to what transpired during the meeting told Aaj News that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was handed a report outlining the reasons for the poor performance.

It said that PML-N workers had reservations about the induction of PTI’s dissident lawmakers into the party.

The report said that inflation, petrol prices and the rise in the value of the dollar compared to the rupee were other reasons for the defeat.

It added that PML-N voters were also divided over the slogan. Previously, PML-N has gone with the slogan “give respect to vote”. This time, though, the party had another slogan as well: “give respect to work”.