ISLAMABAD: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah has urged army chief Gen Raheel Sharif to give a “shut up” call to those trying to drag the institution into political matters.

Expressing his concern over calls to the army by certain politicians during the current impasse, Mr Shah also urged political leaders not to “exploit” the army by dragging it into politics.

Talking to Dawn after returning here from Peshawar on Wednesday, Mr Shah termed such requests by certain politicians as an attempt to exploit the institution of armed forces, asking Gen Sharif to take serious notice of such attempts.

The PPP leader criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri for making indirect references to the army allegedly by calling it the third umpire in their speeches.

PML-Q leader criticised for asking the military to play its role in crisis

He particularly criticised PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who in his recent TV interviews had openly asked the military to play its role in the political crisis. “The army chief should give a shut up call to those who want to exploit the army,” Mr Shah said.

He expressed satisfaction that so far the military had played a neutral role in the crisis caused by indefinite sit-ins by the PTI and PAT.

He said all the predictions and statements of such politicians regarding the army’s possible intervention in the crisis had proved wrong.

Published in Dawn, September 11th , 2014