Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz's (PMLN) Senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz has reportedly delivered a 'shut up call' to her husband, party stalwart and former MNA Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, for 'deviating from party policy' during a recent interview with a private TV channel.
Sources confirmed that the PMLN Senior Vice President has made it clear that no party leader – including her husband Captain (retd) Safdar – should make any statement whatsoever that goes against the party’s policy, and warned that 'strict action' would be taken against anyone who deviates from it.
Captain (retd) Safdar was reprimanded for going against the party, the sources added, clarifying that the PMLN chief organiser will soon release official guidelines on the party's policy.
In an earlier interview with a private TV channel, Captain (retd) Safdar criticised the party’s policy and said that he did not see his wife Maryam – considered the 'natural successor' to PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif – becoming the prime minister of Pakistan in the near future.
To a question regarding PMLN receiving support from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) parliamentarians, including current National Assembly opposition leader Raja Riaz, Safdar said that one should not change his or her loyalty regardless of the circumstances. He questioned the way politicians quickly changed sides, despite winning on the former ruling party’s ticket, and voiced his opposition to accommodating such turncoats.
Regarding the party’s renowned slogan 'respect the vote', Captain (retd) Safdar said that the narrative was cogent and very strong in the past, but the party 'dishonoured' it in 2019 the day it voted in favour of an extension for then-army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
He added that the 'respect the vote' narrative would not work now as it had been buried.