Improve civil-military ties, PML-N top brass tells PM

PM Nawaz’s senior aides advise him not to follow Turkish President Erdogan’s approach in dealing with the military

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leadership has urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to improve his government’s relations with the military establishment, The Express Tribune learnt.

The top brass of the party also gave pieces of advice to the premier as to not follow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s approach in dealing with the military in his country.

According to sources, of late the party’s senior leadership including Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan particularly discussed with PM Nawaz about civil-military relations in details and proposed various solutions.

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According to the details shared by the sources in the ruling party, the prime minister’s top aides told him that if he indulges himself in issues related with the military then there would be lot of problems with the current government.

The sources said the PML-N leadership also advised PM Nawaz as to not follow Erdogan’s approach while dealing the military affairs. According to them, the premier listened to them patiently and defended the Turkey government’s approach with details while giving citations.

Currently there is a stalemate, the sources said, between the civil and military leadership over many issues including requisition of Rangers in Punjab under Article 147 of the Constitution, policies towards India as the prime minister is interested to let Indian investigation team, National Investigation Agency (NIA), to visit Pakistan to record statements of suspects detained regarding the Pathankot Airbase attack while the military establishment is unwilling to allow them.

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The sources added that the party’s top brass urged PM Nawaz not to involve in any issues with Pakistan’s relations with India.

Although the premier has approved the military’s demand of over Rs100 billion for the next fiscal budget, it is still remain insufficient particularly for the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, they said.