Nisar heaps scorn on ministers for 'embarrassing' Pakistan

Ex-interior minister advises cabinet members not to issue ‘irresponsible statements'

ISLAMABAD: The internal differences in the ruling PML-N came to the fore on Saturday when a security czar came down hard on the foreign minister, Khawaja Asif, for ‘embarrassing’ the  country with his ‘irresponsible statements’.

Asif said in a recent television interview that Pakistan needed to put own house in order to avoid embarrassment at the international level. He was alluding to scathing criticism of Pakistan by the United States for its role in the fight against terrorism.

According to his spokesperson, Nisar said while commenting on crucial issues of national importance, government ministers should use facts and figures as the basis of their argument rather than ‘making assumption and presenting riddles’.



The fact of the matter is that Pakistan has paid the heaviest price in the war against terror – in the shape of thousands of casualties and economic loss of over $100 billion – but still the country is criticised and even humiliated internationally.

“The main reason for this [international] criticism is that we ourselves are in the habit of ridiculing and humiliating our country with our statements and attitudes. We provide foreign powers an opportunity to blame us for their own failures,” Nisar was quoted as saying in the statement.

He asked if there was not a marked improved in the internal security situation today as compared to 2013-14.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, this improvement resulted from our joint efforts and not under coercion or help from outside. The federal and provincial governments, armed forces, civil armed forces and intelligence agencies have contributed in this joint effort,” he said.



The spokesperson said it was quite strange that the army chief was saying that Pakistan had offered huge sacrifices and the world must appreciate and acknowledge its efforts and ‘do more’ but the foreign and interior ministers were asserting that Pakistan should do more.

“These two persons are minister since past four and a half years. Have they ever spoken before the cabinet meeting or during National Security Committee meeting over this issue?

“If the minister sees any weakness or shortcoming, he should take remedial measures or raise the issue before the cabinet or the National Security Committee. The ministers should come up with solutions and not make mere statements,” he added.

Nisar asked: “Does the minister realise how much his statement was appreciated and publicised in India and how it was used by India to substantiate its baseless claim that the problem is with Pakistan?”

He said of course there were some weaknesses and shortcoming vis-à-vis national security but these issues should be addressed through consultation, hard work and consensus.



“One should not make fun of it before the entire world through statements. The national security issues are very sensitive and one should consider national interests before speaking about them,” he said.

Nisar claimed that it was ‘a fact’ that such statements were made to criticise the country’s intelligence agencies and armed forces. But if this is the case then one should have the moral courage to do plain talk rather than talking in riddles, the former interior minister added.

Responding to another news item, Nisar’s spokesperson said the claim made in the news was totally ridiculous, baseless, and provocative and false and was into the mouth of former premier Nawaz Sharif’s wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, by a TV anchor.

Reportedly the anchor had stated that when Kulsoom was leading a movement against General (retd) Pervez Musharraf after 1999 military coup she had said that even Chaudhry Nisar was against her.

“Why has he recalled such a thing after passage of almost 17 years? This is a matter of serious concern that Kulsoom Nawaz is unwell these days and she is not in a position to comment over such a news item,” the statement added.