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Gen Raheel met Nawaz before going to US

Conspiracy theories still rife in military, political circles

By our correspondents
November 21, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Raheel Sharif had met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before leaving for the United States and after the issuance of a contentious press release by the ISPR.Though this meeting was not covered by the media, the government sources claim that relations between the two Sharifs are back to normal.
These sources were reluctant to share with The News what was discussed between the two Sharifs and whether or not the prime minister had told General Raheel to review the role of the ISPR. They insist that the “press release” issue was over and the relations between the two sides were back to normal.
These sources laughed at those suggesting that the army chief’s recent visit to the US did not have the approval of the prime minister. “How could it happen? Like every other visit, the army chief’s visit also had the approval of the prime minister,” an informed government source said.
Despite this “all good” report from key government sources, there are still some dubious campaigns being run in selected circles showing as if the two sides are at each others’ throats besides suggesting that the army chief is seeking “explanations” from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on certain government matters. These campaigns also vilify Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the basis of false and baseless information.
Some agencies’ men are also said to be keenly pursuing the cases of “Nandipur” and “LNG”, and in this connection the media persons/ anchor persons are also contacted.
Regarding such dubious campaigns, the government sources said that in certain agencies “disgruntled elements” continue to remain unchecked. These sources insist that the government has complete trust in the sincerity and uprightness of the leading spymasters.
According to one of the anti-government campaigns: “Army chief was extremely annoyed on the Nandipur project. In addition the government had made extreme misappropriation in the aid of earthquake victims. Intelligence agencies provided solid, concrete proofs about direct involvement of Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar. When Nawaz was asked about these two mega corruption cases, he simply denied and tried to put the blame about the trillion dollars earthquake aid on Gen Pervez Musharraf and the GHQ on which the COAS lost his temper for the very first time and asked everyone to leave the Conference Room except for Nawaz, DG ISI and DG MI. Everyone was made to leave the room including the corps commanders, ministers and other general staff officers present there.
“The closed-door meeting continued for 15 minutes and after that only Nawaz Sharif came out and the eyewitnesses reveal that Nawaz face was all red and he was sweating heavily as if he had participated in some marathon.
“Sources also revealed that while Nawaz was inside with Gen Raheel, the premier’s own federal ministers sitting outside were talking that probably the COAS, who represents the whole army, has not liked the Islamabad High Court verdict about the indictment of Gen Musharraf in the treason case and the close cabinet members of Nawaz had advised the PM and AG to drop all the cases against Gen Musharraf silently but Nawaz was adamant about taking revenge from Musharraf in spite of clear instructions from the GHQ on the subject and not to involve the GHQ as a whole in any controversial statement. Inside rumours are that Nawaz has been told in clear wordings to submit the reports of all the JITs (2014-15) in 15 days including the Model Town incident, Baldia Karachi and Kasur children abuse specifically.”
Though the very first reading of the above campaign raises questions about the credibility of information being shared, it is still being spread mainly through Whatsapp groups, including those of military officers. The apparent purpose is to create a rift between civil and military leaderships. A campaign to defame the govt has been going on for quite some time on the social media involving defamatory Photoshop pictures, self-made drawings and caricatures.
The government sources, though appear confident that things are back to normal between civil and military, it is yet to be seen if those running dubious and dangerous campaigns would be identified and apprehended to expose the real culprits.