Nawaz Sharif bars PML-N’s members from meeting army officials

PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday urged party members to refrain from meeting army or agencies’ personnel.

The directive came a few days after the DG ISPR’s disclosure that former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair had twice met with army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In a letter sent to party members, Sharif said: “The PML-N leadership is of the firm view that such meetings, even though conducted in good faith, may cause undue controversies.”

Iqbal said that the directions were given at the behest of Nawaz, and the reason was that “contents of such meetings may be selectively leaked in order to serve specific interests and malign the political fraternity”.

“In view of the above, it has been decided that in the future no party member shall meet any personnel from the armed forces and its related agencies whether in personal or official capacity,” the letter said.

Iqbal mentioned that if a situation arises where a meeting is in the interest of national security or the fulfillment of constitutional responsibilities, then it shall be done indiscreetly and with the prior permission of Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz expects strong and unwavering support from the party leadership at a time when the country is “passing through a defining democratic crisis”.