Pakistan PM ‘briefed’ on army chief’s meeting with PTI leaders

Gulf Today Correspondent Tariq Butt/NNI

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been briefed about what had transpired in the recent Army Chief General Asim Munir’s meeting with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, said a report quoting an unnamed highly-placed government source.

The source, which was approached to ascertain whether the premier knew about this recent interaction between the army chief and the PTI leaders, said that Shahbaz was briefed about what was discussed in the meeting.

The prime minister was told, according to the source, there was no schedule for any exclusive meeting of the PTI leaders with the army chief. After the law and order meeting with different political leaders, it was said, the army chief was approached by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for an exclusive meeting with him and PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan.

The premier was told that the army chief obliged them but when the PTI leaders talked about PTI issues, they were asked to take up these matters with the government.

Munir told them that he would not get into such matters, claimed the source, who is close to the premier.

The PTI chairman recently confirmed that he had called on Munir along with Gandapur.

Gohar Ali Khan, who was earlier denying it, had admitted this only after Imran told the media persons that the PTI chairman and Gandapur had met the army chief in Peshawar.

Imran added that Gohar Ali Khan presented all matters and demands of the party directly to Munir.

The PTI chairman, however, later said that the security issues were discussed in the meeting without explaining what his relevance was to sit with the army chief along with the chief minister in a meeting discussing security issues.

The former prime minister had termed direct negotiations with the establishment a positive step towards resolving the ongoing issues. However, some members of the government negotiation committee including Rana Sanaullah and Irfan Siddiqui insisted that the PTI leaders were not encouraged to discuss political matters or what Imran had said about the meeting.

Meanwhile, Gohar Ali Khan has said that opposition staged protest on the arrival of Shahbaz in the National Assembly as the government has not taken any step on PTI’s demand of setting up judicial commission on two incidents.

Talking to media, Gohar said PTI had demanded that a judicial commission should be set up for the release of arrested PTI leaders and workers.

He said PTI lawmakers were questioning why the government opened fire on peaceful protesters during Nov.24 protest.

Sehr Afzal Marwat said that PTI will announce power shows on the directives of Imran.

Meanwhile, Tehreek Tahafuzz Ain-e-Pakistan and PTI leadership visited the residence of former PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokar and invited him to join their “movement.”

During the meeting, both sides discussed prevailing political and economic situation in the country.

Later taking to media, Khokar said that the country was passing through crisis and the incumbent government has added fuel to the problems. He said it was need of the hour that pro-democratic forces join hands for the rule of law.

Opposition leader in the Parliament Omar Ayub said that agenda of all peace loving people is establishing rule of law in the country. He said opposition leaders last week met Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and invited him to join their struggle.