Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Capt (retd.) Muhammad Safdar, has made a startling claim about the Pakistani military’s role in the country’s political landscape. He alleged that in 2022, military officers travelled to London to persuade Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister, to return to Pakistan and salvage the nation from the perceived destruction wrought by the Imran Khan-led government.
Safdar’s statements, made during an address to party workers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), paint a picture of a powerful military establishment actively influencing political events. He claims that the military’s efforts to bring Nawaz back were driven by a desire to counter the perceived threat posed by Imran Khan’s leadership. However, according to Safdar, the military’s involvement went beyond simply urging Nawaz’s return.
He alleges that the powerful circles, a reference to the military, intervened to prevent Nawaz from assuming the Prime Minister’s post for a fourth time. Safdar asserts that the military ensured Nawaz’s defeat in the NA-15 Mansehra constituency, citing manipulation of election results by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Interestingly, Nawaz won the Lahore seat in the February 8 general election, but his victory was contested by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Despite the PTI’s allegations of rigging, the ECP declared Nawaz the winner.
While Nawaz had admitted to vying for the Prime Minister’s position, his party’s inability to secure a majority led to the decision to elevate his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, to the role. The PTI, however, has alleged that the PML-N’s victory was orchestrated by the military establishment, which allegedly manipulated the ECP to transfer dozens of seats from PTI to PML-N, facilitating the rise of Shehbaz Sharif’s government.
Sources within the PML-N have hinted at a quid pro quo arrangement, suggesting that Nawaz agreed to forgo his Prime Ministerial ambitions in exchange for the military’s support in securing the Punjab Chief Minister position for his daughter, Maryam Nawaz.
These allegations, made by a close confidante of Nawaz Sharif, have sparked renewed debate about the military’s influence in Pakistani politics. The claims of intervention, manipulation of elections, and the offer of political positions in exchange for support further highlight the complex and often opaque relationship between the military and civilian leaders in Pakistan. As the country navigates its political landscape, these allegations are likely to fuel ongoing tensions and intensify scrutiny of the military’s role in shaping the nation’s future.
