Capt Safdar alleges a few generals, not army, ousted Nawaz in 1999

GHAZI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar said here Thursday that a few generals, and not Pakistan Army, had imposed martial law in 1999.

Speaking at a public meeting here, he said the army was supporting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the time in 1999 but a few generals belonging had conspired against the then government.

He claimed that a few generals plotted the coup and one cannot blame the Pakistan Army for ousting the elected Prime Minister.

“The army was neither in favour of imposition nor supporting the martial law imposed by Pervez Musharraf. It was instead supporting Nawaz Sharif,” he claimed. Captain Safdar said that

General Tariq and other generals conspired against the elected government and ousted Nawaz Sharif from power.

“Nawaz Sharif is being victimised for promoting national cause and safeguarding the country’s interests,” he maintained.

He said the former prime minister had braved international pressure and carried out nuclear tests, adding he strengthened state institutions and was punished for making the country’s defense impregnable.

Captain Safdar lauded the services of former chief minister Pir Sabir Shah for the party and his loyalty to Nawaz Sharif.

He said Sabir Shah was very close to Nawaz Sharif and the latter had taken Rs22 billion loan on Sabir Shah’s insistence for a gas supply project to Haripur.