- Report suggests proposed agreement gives armed forces control over strategic policy areas, such as relations with US, Afghanistan and India
- Says for rest of term, Nawaz Sharif will be ceremonial prime minister
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is close to making a deal with the Pakistan Army, in the backdrop of the political events that are unfolding in the federal capital, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The report suggests that as per the proposed agreement, the armed forces would control strategic policy areas, such as relations with the United States, Afghanistan and India.
The report said that the military had earlier extracted a promise of freedom for former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf and that Sharif’s government had secretly agreed to let Musharraf go abroad after a symbolic indictment over treason, which took place in March. However, the government went back on the deal as a result of which trust had eroded between the military and Sharif, it added.
Government aides said the military has seized on Sharif’s weakened status during the political crisis and are now seeking guarantees from the prime minister that he will follow through on the agreement, the report suggests.
It also says that for the rest of his term, Sharif will be a ceremonial prime minister.
“If Nawaz Sharif survives, for the rest of his term, he will be a ceremonial prime minister—the world will not take him seriously,” said Ayesha Siddiqa, an analyst based in Islamabad. “A soft coup has already taken place. The question is whether it will harden,” the report says.
Government aides said in the report that the administration was also willing to let the prime minister’s brother, Shahbaz Sharif, step down as chief minister of Punjab province.
Thousands of protesters led by cleric Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan have camped outside the parliament building in Islamabad to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The two-week showdown at the heart of the capital has rattled the country and shaken Sharif’s government just 15 months into a five-year mandate.
Imran Khan has remained defiant and refused to end his sit-in protest, saying he was seeking “independence or death” and would not rest until both Sharif brothers quit.
Khan has alleged massive cheating in the May 2013 poll, though international observers said the vote was largely free and fair.
Pakistani zionistjew Nawaz Sharif has try to play game with our Respected Janab Alama Qadri Sahib & Janab Imran khan Sahib but they outplay him he Lost & help called Pakistan Armed Foces COAS to help! a shameless personne!
ہمیں تو خیر فوج سے زیادہ فوجی بوٹوں سے پیار ہے سیاستدان اتنے اچھے ہوتے تو فوج فضول میں ہر معاملے میں دخل اندازی نہ کرتی . اپنے معاملے خود حل کرنا ہی نہیں چاہتے کیوں کے جوتے جب تک سر پر نہ پڑیں تو کچھ سمجھ نہیں آتا. اب طاہر القادری عمران خان اور نواز شریف کو کیسے سمجھ آتی ہے فوج کی بات. لاتوں کے بھوت باتوں سے نہیں مانتے .
I am totally puzzled. The President of Pakistan was figure head, Now PM will be ceremonial, what that is suppose to mean ? Who will run the country, day to business ? They are quoting Wall Street Journal. Why they can not explain the whole situation to Pakistani News Media ? At least Pakistani Public has the right to know what is going on.
ماضی
اگر کسی کا جوان بیٹا نماز نہیں پڑھتا تو پڑوس کی لڑکی سے کہلوا کر دیکھیں امید ہے تہجد بھی پڑھے گا .
حال
اگر کوئی شاہرئے دستور پر دھرنا دے کر بیٹھا ہو اور کسی کی مان نے کو تییار نہ ہو تو چیف آف آرمی اسٹاف سے کہلوا کر دیکھیں تمام دھرنے بھول جائے گا.
MNS always manages to upset sum1 or do something that CLMEA back and haunts him. Should have extended olive branch to musharraf the same way he did u back in 1999.
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