LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has barred all party members meeting any personnel from the armed forces and its related agencies in a personal or official capacity.
“If such a meeting is necessary for the interest of national security or fulfillment of constitutional responsibilities, then it shall be done indiscreetly and with the prior permission of the party’s Quaid,” said Ahsan Iqbal in a circular issued on the directives of former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif barred members from holding individual, private or delegation-level meetings with the country’s military leadership.
The directives were issued a day after an army spokesman disclosed that former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair had twice reached out to Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed the political and legal woes.
According to the circular issued today (Tuesday), Ahsan Iqbal informed that the party was fighting the battle for Pakistan’s survival. “Our stance is based solely on national interests and remains above political and personal concerns,” he added.
Ahsan Iqbal informed that he had been instructed by Nawaz Sharif to convey the party’s policies regarding meetings with the military leadership. “The PML-N is of the firm view that such meetings, even though conducted in good faith, may cause undue controversies,” he added.
“We all know that the contents of such meetings may be selectively leaked in order to serve specific interests and malign the political fraternity,” he asserted.
He further said that Nawaz Sharif expected strong and unwavering support from the party leadership during a time when the country is passing through a defining democratic crisis.
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