PML-N’s Zubair confirms ‘friendly chat’ with COAS

ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader and former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair confirmed that he had a “friendly chat” with Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at Islamabad club.

In a clarification tweet on Wednesday, Zubari said that he had just a light friendly chat for about 10 to 12 minutes with General Bajwa and his family.

The former governor dismissed reports that he was stopped from meeting the army chief.

“This is just to clarify that last Sunday I along with my wife & few friends met the chief & his family at isd club . He was there for brunch. Just a light friendly chat for about 10-12 minutes. No one stopped me from meeting him as wrongly propagated. No politics was discussed,” he said.

The army chief and his family visited the Islamabad club on Monday for a brunch, The News International reported.

This is just to clarify that last Sunday I along with my wife & few friends met the chief & his family at isd club . He was there for brunch. Just a light friendly chat for about 10-12 minutes. No one stopped me from meeting him as wrongly propagated. No politics was discussed.

— Mohammad Zubair (@Real_MZubair) January 27, 2021

Last year, PML-N leader Mohammad Zubair met Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa twice in the past two months.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar confirmed the meeting.

The military spokesperson said the meetings were held at Zubair’s request and were related to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

The first of the two meetings took place at the end of August – in which ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed was also present – while the second took place on September 7. The army chief made it clear during the meetings that legal problems will be solved by the courts and that political problems should be handled by the parliament. “The army chief had said that the armed forces must be kept away from these talks,” said the DG ISPR.