Former Prime Minister and president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif stated that if he comes to power post the May 11 elections, he will ensure the Army doesn’t interfere in the affairs of the civilian government. He was talking to Karan Thapar in a Devil’s Advocate special from Lahore. Nawaz Sharif acted obsequious and eager to please the Indian TV Interviewer. He bent over backwards to ridicule and mock the Pakistan Army, instead of criticizing his late Patron Gen.Zia-ul-Haq, who brought him out of obscurity to unlimited wealth and power.

Here is the transcript:

Karan Thapar: Under the PPP lead government they have got used to controlling relations with Washington, relations with New Delhi, security policy. If Nawaz Sharif becomes prime minister would you be happy for the Army to continue to exercise this sort of control.

 

 

Nawaz Sharif: I do not know whether this is happening in the centre in Islamabad. All I know is when I was the Prime Minister the policies were being formulated by the federal government, by the civilian head of the state and then of course executed by the institutions.

Karan Thapar: And you want that to continue?

Nawaz Sharif: I want that to continue and I am very clear on that, everybody must remain in their respective domains.

Karan Thapar: Which means the Prime Minister will be the Army chief’s boss.

Nawaz Sharif: He is. He is. The Army is the attached department of the federal government and of course the chief of Army staff works under the federal government and implements the policies of the federal government So I think, as I just mentioned I don’t know if that is happening in Islamabad. I believe it is not happening like that.

Karan Thapar: But you will reinforce it when you come to power.

Nawaz Sharif: That is what the constitution says, that is what our law says, and that is what the mandate is of the federal government.