Talking to journalists in Islamabad on Saturday, outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he has never denied his links with the establishment, calling himself the apple of their eyes. “When was my relationship with the establishment not good?”

Last week, Shehbaz lamented being touted as an “establishment’s man”.

“I was called the establishment’s man, but I did not care about those taunts. I never met army chiefs for personal reasons; the only motive behind those meetings was to ensure that the establishment and governments take the country forward together.”

Shehbaz Sharif said this during a farewell ceremony at the Prime Minister’s house. Senior reporters, journalists, and anchors came to the event.

On this occasion, the prime minister was questioned about why, in addition to encouraging investment in the nation, he was attributing General Asim Munir’s leadership to the Bhara Kahu Bypass project’s success

He said in response that the army chief was to be credited for ensuring the project’s prompt completion.

On the other hand, Former Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has explained that Shehbaz Sharif’s statement about being the apple of the establishment’s eye, he said it satirically. 
Maryam Aurangzeb further clarified that Shahbaz Sharif said, “If I am the apple of the eye, then why was I in Attock Fort, Attock Jail, Adiala Jail, and Kot Lakhpat Jail.” She added that Shahbaz Sharif went to jail during both General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s time and General Musharraf’s time.

شہباز شریف نے طنزیہ کہا کہ وہ اسٹیبلشمنٹ کی آنکھ کا تارا ہیں، مریم اورنگزيب@Marriyum_A @SaleemKhanSafi pic.twitter.com/JRYRTefJdr

— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) August 14, 2023