Campaign trail: For Chaudhry Nisar, party comes first

Pitches in for party candidate in NA-59 where his relatives are also contesting on PTI, PPP tickets .

On the outskirts of Rawalpindi, election fever is in the air.

It is felt distinctly in Chakri, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s hometown. Within this area, and those adjoining it, his influence is strong, and his party’s presence on the streets is palpable. Back-to-back rallies, vibrant posters – mostly of the PML-N and PTI – and meetings make this unmistakably an election season that will be difficult to forget within the Potohari region.

Familial quandary

Chaudhry Nisar is contesting four seats – NA-52, NA-53, PP-6 and PP-7, while also campaigning for other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates in the Rawalpindi division that he awarded tickets to. Observers believe that he is also eyeing the chief minister’s slot.  Despite his strength within these areas, not all is simple for Chaudhry Nisar. Today, he finds himself pulled between familial and political obligations as three relatives contest NA-59 (Fateh Jhang).

He admits that it is challenging for him to campaign for his brother-in-law, PML-N’s Asif Ali Malik, when his nephew is also vying for the seat on a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket. Moreover, another relative, Sardar Saleem Haider, is also contesting the seat from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) platform.

“It is true that all three contenders for this particular constituency are my relatives. I am not here to speak in favour of one against another, but my affiliation with my party has been strong and undivided for the last 28 years,” he remarks confidently. “I will stand by my party again this time.”

Frenzied campaigning and personal attacks

The Opposition leader’s campaigning has been colourful, to say the least. Full of energy and anecdotes and vicious personal attacks, he offers people what they want: adrenaline.

Between Monday and Tuesday, he addressed rallies in Chakwal, Wah and Fateh Jhang.

While it was tough for Chaudhry Nisar to speak out against PTI and PPP, due to the political affiliations of his family members, he had no problem lashing out against PTI chief Imran Khan.

“We studied together and played cricket together,” he said, revealing details about an alleged 42-year old friendship. “Imran ignored two pieces of my advice: One was related to his marriage with Jemima, and other was his decision to enter politics. On May 11, people will prove that my second piece of advice was grounded in fact: Imran has no temperament for politics.”

It’s clear that personal details are not off-limit when it comes to electioneering.

“Imran spent most of his time in Europe in night clubs. His friends are actually foreigners and he does not trust Pakistanis,” he further claimed. “His only target is Nawaz Sharif, he doesn’t criticise Musharraf or Zardari. He is not sincere with Pakistan.”

At this point, the crowd at the Fateh Jhang rally began to chant ‘yahoodi lobby, yahoodi lobby’, to which a smirking Chaudhry Nisar replied, “You are badshah people, I cannot make such a strong statement.”

During the rally, he also stressed that he was not relying on his clan, but on merit. He said he has only one home – that in Chakri – which is not supporting him, either.

“I believe you people will laud your decision to vote for PML-N when this country becomes prosperous and economically stable again,” he exclaimed.

Zardari under fire

Chaudhry Nisar’s views on the state of the PPP are quite direct and uncensored.

“I want to tell you one thing very clearly: Zardari is not ZA Bhutto or Benazir Bhutto,” he says, without an iota of hesitation. “PPP was buried with Benazir and now a mafia is running the affairs of the party, with the connivance of two property tycoons of Islamabad.”

Correction: The story earlier incorrectly mentioned that Chaudhry Nisar is contesting from NA-51 instead of NA-53. We regret the mistake.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.