ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has revealed that he was threatened with martial law in November last year, just a week prior to the appointment of the new army chief of the country.
“During the last week before the new army chief’s appointment, there was a point when I thought martial law was going to be imposed,” PM Shehbaz said during an interview with journalist Hamid Mir.
Mir confirmed that he had also been ‘directly’ warned of the possibility of martial law, in response to the premier’s stance.
Shehbaz, who is also the president of PML-N, said that he, without naming anyone, had made it clear in the presence of Gen Bajwa, Gen Naveed Mukhtar, and Gen Faiz Hameed that if anyone thinks that he would stab his brother [Nawaz] in the back to become the prime minister, he can sacrifice 10 such ministries for him.
He told Mir that Nawaz is his brother and his leader, and is like a father to him, adding that it is a part of politics and democracy to have a difference of opinion.
The premier further said that in such a situation, he conveys his stance to his brother behind closed doors or during a meeting of the close aides.
“Sometimes, he approves of my stance while at other times, he doesn’t; he is a leader and it is his decision to make,” he remarked.
When asked if the first summary received for the appointment of the army chief actually didn’t have Gen Asim’s name in it, he confirmed that the summary was indeed delayed by the military.
However, he maintained, when the summary reached me, it had Gen Syed Asim Munir’s name on the top.
It merits mentioning here that the premier is a staunch supporter of his brother and PML-N supremo and has been extending support to him through thick and thin.
