Nawaz unhappy as Avenfield oath terms ‘broken’

LONDON: Pakistan’s Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is unhappy with some of his party colleagues for breaking terms of the oath taken at the Avenfield apartments a month ago over the issue of Army Act, it is learnt.

Three senior sources, who were present at the meeting, confirmed to this correspondent that oath on the Holy Book of Quran was administered at the meeting on 8 December 2019.

Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Rana Tanveer, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Pervaiz Rasheed, Amir Muqam, Khurram Dastagir Khan and Ishaq Dar were present in the meeting with Nawaz Sharif. All of them had walked to Avenfield flats after holding a formal party meeting over lunch at the Maroush Gardens Restaurant on Edgware Road where Shahbaz Sharif and others discussed the issue of Army Chief’s extension and it was generally agreed that the PML-N would support the extension issue as a matter of principle. They met Nawaz Sharif for about 90 minutes. Hussain Nawaz was also around during the meeting at Avenfield flats.

The participants of this meeting agreed that they would not speak about anything outside on whatever was discussed in the meeting.

Geo reporter and Jang columnist Aizaz Syed had mentioned for the first time, in his weekly Jang column, about oath on the Holy Quran during the meeting held in London. Since then, Khawaja Asif, Khurram Dastagir and Rana Tanvir confirmed having taken oath at the London meeting.

Sources in Pakistan and London confirmed that at least two parliamentarians, after reaching Pakistan from London, transgressed the terms of oath or violated the agreement while one albeit publicly confirmed having taken oath declined to share details.

Ironically, said the sources, the two members didn’t respect the terms of oath and violated the terms agreed during the meeting that this issue will never be discussed outside of this room.

One source said: “It’s true that the unanimous support on the issue of Army chief’s extension was agreed and it was at the top of the agenda in the meeting. That’s a public fact and known but there were other sensitive issues discussed too and agreed upon. Clearly the two members didn’t wait for long to either go public or privately brief media and others over what was discussed.”

Nawaz Sharif neither mentioned nor suggested to take oath but “certain participants” insisted that oath should be taken on the Holy Book of Quran, said one source who was present during the Avenfield meeting throughout. Nawaz clearly showed his reluctance over the suggestion but the members persisted, the sources confirmed.

Hence an oath was administered in an unconventional manner without the participants holding or laying their hands on a copy of the Holy Quran although there was a copy of the Holy Book in the room, according to those who were present in the meeting.

One source, who refused to share the proceedings of the meeting for being under oath, was questioned if the public statements made by some participants were in accordance with the proceedings. He said here was a large difference between what was agreed and what was eventually stated. He said: “It was an exaggeration, rather an abuse.”

It’s understood that a source from Pakistan brought a special message for Nawaz Sharif from the powerful quarters which was shared with a few senior stalwarts in confidence.

The sources refused to share details stating that they were under oath but at least two sources feared that the contents of the meeting would come out soon as participants have already broken the terms of their oath.

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif said the party had unanimously decided to support the extension of Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

PML-N’s decision had endorsement of Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan. Sources also said Nawaz due to ill health was seen as a man of reduced physical and mental stamina which might as well have been the cause of his acquiescence to a few recent decisions taken by the party.

It was agreed at the meeting that Gen Bajwa’s extension will be supported without any conditions and that PML-N will not play any kind of politics over the issue of Army chief’s extension.

Separately, a source shared on Saturday that former PM Nawaz Sharif had shared his annoyance over the critical remarks passed by a few senior leaders of the party for the party’s supporters on social media who have heavily criticised the party leadership for not taking them into confidence over the extension issue.

The source said Nawaz Sharif has conveyed his message that the party’s activists were right in criticising their leadership and they should not be silenced or disrespected for voicing criticism.