Muhammad Zubair twice met army chief in recent weeks: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan army chief spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar disclosed that PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair had twice met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in the last few weeks.

The DG ISPR told a news channel that that the meetings took place at the request of Muhammad Zubair to discuss issues regarding former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

According to the army spokesman, the first meeting was held in the last week of August followed by another on September 7.

Gen Babar Iftikhar further said that ISI chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed was also present in the meetings.

The COAS made it clear to the PML-N that the political issues would be resolved in the parliament, while the former premier’s legal issues would be taken up in the courts, Gen Iftikhar said. The army chief said that Pakistan Army should not be dragged into political issues.

The statement came hours after Maryam Nawaz denied reports of a meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and any representative of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Reacting to a meeting between parliamentary leaders and military leadership, Maryam said that meeting was called on Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a political issue and such issues should be discussed in the parliament not GHQ.

She further said that political leadership should not be invited for such meetings nor politicians should attend them. If anyone has to discuss such issues, he should approach parliament.