Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb Wednesday said Rana Mashhood’s party membership has been suspended owing to his controversial statement. “PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has suspended Rana Mashhood’s party membership after his controversial statement,” she said. “A three-member committee comprising Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Ayaz Sadiq and Rana Tanveer has been constituted to interrogate Mashhood regarding his claims,” she said, adding that the committee will submit a report with its recommendations within two weeks. “A decision regarding Mashhood will be taken on the basis of committee’s inquiry report,” she said. Talking to media on Wednesday, Mashhood, however, backtracked from his earlier statement alleging an ‘understanding’ being reached between the party and the establishment. He said he did not mention any ‘deal’ in the news show and remained adamant that his words were misinterpreted and twisted. “We [PML-N] did not broker a deal,” he asserted, and claimed he did not mean ‘Pakistan Army’ when he said ‘establishment’. “I am a political worker who believes in democracy. Whenever I speak about the establishment, I am not referring to the army,” he stated. “My interview was taken out of context and there was no mention of the word deal. I have said again and again this was my own viewpoint,” Rana Mashhood said, adding that the party has also clarified that the comments were his own and not the PML-N’s policy. “We have always spoken about upholding the law and have never looked for backdoors,” he said. “We have never made a deal nor will allow anyone to do so,” he said. Published in Daily Times, October 4th 2018.