PML-N formally bans members from meeting military leaders

Just days after the directives issued by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, its secretary-general, Ahsan Iqbal, on Tuesday issued a circular which said no party member in the future would meet the personnel of armed forces and the related agencies in a personal or official capacity, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

The circular shared with the public through the official Twitter account of PML-N, however, noted that in case such a meeting was necessary for national security and/or fulfillment of constitutional requirements then “it shall be done indiscreetly” and “with the prior permission” of the party supremo.

Circular issued by Secretary general PMLN Ahsan Iqbal pic.twitter.com/x0O4Pys65P

— PMLN (@pmln_org) September 29, 2020

Ahsan also wrote that Nawaz was pleased with “the overwhelming response from the party cadres and of course the public to his narrative as expressed in his address to the APC”.

It further added that Nawaz expected strong and unwavering support from the party leadership at a time when the country was passing through a defining democratic crisis “in defending as party policy to turn Pakistan into a truly democratic state” while guaranteeing and protecting fundamental political and economic rights. 

Last week, Nawaz in a series of tweets had stated that the party members would not meet the members of the armed forces except in case it was necessary and approved by the leadership. Moreover, all such meetings would not be kept secret.

حالیہ واقعات سے ایک بار پھر ثابت ہوتا ہے کہ کس طرح بعض ملاقاتیں سات پردوں میں چھپی رہتی اور کس طرح بعض کی تشہیر کرکے مرضی کےمعنی پہنائے جاتے ہیں۔یہ کھیل اب بند ہوجانا چاہئے۔ آج میں اپنی جماعت کو ہدایات جاری کررہا ہوں کہ آئین پاکستان کے تقاضوں اور خودمسلح افواج کواپنے حلف کی۔۔۔1/2

— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) September 24, 2020