Shah challenges minister to prove collusion allegation

Opposition leader will respond to Nisar’s accusations in front of PM Nawaz

SUKKUR/ KARACHI:

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has offered to quit politics if Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan can conclusively prove that Pakistan Peoples Party is indulging in the ‘politics of collusion’.

In response to Shah’s recent statements of criticism of the government, Nisar had told the media earlier in the day that he would not comment on ‘non-serious comments’ or get into the details of how the PPP leader had “misused his post for personal gain with the politics of mukmuka (collusion)”.

Later, in a hurriedly called news conference at his residence, Shah said mudslinging could not resolve the issue. “We have to rise above ourselves.”



He continued: “Our support to the government for the sake of democracy has always been mistaken as friendly opposition. I am not obliged to clear my position in this regard. The PML-N government needs to dispel this perception.”

Criticising the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, he said the party’s ministers always targeted the PPP. “But we do not believe in blame games.”

Regarding Nisar’s allegations, the PPP leader said he would respond to him in parliament in front of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “If the PM does not reply, I shall approach the court.”

Shah, however, took a few jibes at the security czar. “My statement about forming a judicial commission to probe the Army Public School and Bacha Khan University attacks worked as a good multi-vitamin or antibiotic for the ailing Nisar, who sprang into action and started levelling allegations against me.”

Saying there was nothing wrong with his statement, he wondered why the interior minister reacted so strongly.

“It means something is fishy.”

The PPP leader said the minister literally brought tears to his eyes when he had declared TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud ‘a martyr’.

Without naming Nisar, he said: “Mian [Nawaz Sharif] Sahab, you are cherishing a snake in your bosom. Beware of it!” He said the military was fighting a war against terrorists and, therefore, this wasn’t the time for political point-scoring. “Levelling allegations against me portrays a sick mindset, which is not a good thing.”

He said if the politicians continued fighting with and issuing statements against one another, it would have an adverse effect on the operation against terrorists.

Meanwhile, Sindh Education Minister Nisar Khuhro said Nisar had failed to play his role in implementing the National Action Plan. “He should accept his incompetency and resign from the ministry.”

Talking to the media, the PPP leader asked why the interior minister always “goes into hiding whenever terror incidents occur in the country and the people need his assistance”.

“If he is really ill, then he should show us a medical certificate to prove whether he is really afflicted with a disease or staging a drama.”

Criticising the federal government on tackling terrorism, the senior minister said the provincial government had brought the law and order situation in Karachi and other districts of the province under control, but the Centre had failed to deliver.

“Instead of performing their due role, the PML-N’s federal ministers are criticising others.”


Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2016.