Nisar says not upset with Sharif, not leaving PML-N
Advises former PM to break free of sycophants; expresses displeasure over his ‘invisible force’ statement
Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO: EXPRESS / FILE
ISLAMABAD:
While thanking Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for offering him to join his party, senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has clarified that he is neither upset with party leader Nawaz Sharif nor is he leaving the party.
Nisar, who served as interior minister till the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif in Panama Papers case on July 28 last year, was apparently sidelined due to his criticism of the anti-judiciary and anti-establishment stance adopted by the former primer and some of his close aides in the wake of his ouster.
In the recent months, the former interior minister had strongly responded to various statements of Sharif as well as his daughter Maryam Nawaz and there were reports that he might part ways with the party of which he was one of the founding members.
Who asked you for party ticket, Nisar asks Maryam
However, at a press conference held at his residence on Saturday, Nisar said, “I am not upset with Nawaz Sharif or the party. I will attend whichever party meeting I am invited to and will stay away when I am not invited.”
He added, “I am not disgruntled and will remain in the party. I stand with the PML-N but not the party which restricts freedom of thought or a party in which regards a difference of opinion as a major crime.”
The former interior minister said he was amongst 20 to 22 founding members of the PML-N, but added that he was the only person from among those people who was still with the party.
"I have never left them but then it is also their responsibility not to leave others behind. I have always shouldered the political burden of Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N, but I am not the kind who picks someone’s slippers," he said.
Talking about his loyalty with the party, he revealed that after the apex court verdict in the Panamagate case, a group of 40 to 45 disgruntled MNAs were ready to leave the party but he advised them stay on.
"If I were upset with the party then, I could have very easily taken 40 to 45 MNAs [with me and left] at the time of Nawaz Sharif's disqualification. But I did not do this because I have never played this game in my entire life. I am not a conspirator,” he said.
He said a number of MNAs came to him and “they still do, but I always tell them to articulate their own views while remaining within the party”.
Nisar said he had always felt pride throughout his political life in expressing his opinion. He said he used to say his party offered the most freedom to differ which no other party offered.
Here, he quoted three examples when leaders of other parties differed with their party leadership and were not treated as he was treated by the PML-N leadership despite airing a divergent view.
Nisar advised Sharif to break free from ‘sycophants’ around him. He also expressed displeasure over his recent remarks that the PML-N would be contesting election against ‘invisible forces’.
Chaudhry Nisar to contest general elections from NA-59, PP-10, PP-14
“Currently our party is in power and such comments are tantamount to making fun of Pakistan in the world,” he said.
He did not either approve of Imran Khan's recent claim that the ruling PML-N had received help from elements within Pakistan Army in the 2013 polls.
“What kind of a message is sent to the world when we cry over our own matters like this,” he said.
The former security czar, however, said ‘everybody knew’ that the military establishment had had a ‘direct role and an indirect role’ in influencing general elections in the past.
Nisar also thanked Imran Khan and other senior PTI leaders for inviting him to their party.
“It is an honour for me. It is probably due to whatever stature I have in politics. I thank them for that. But as of now I am in a party. But I will not remain in a party where there is no freedom of speech," he added.
While thanking Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for offering him to join his party, senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has clarified that he is neither upset with party leader Nawaz Sharif nor is he leaving the party.
Nisar, who served as interior minister till the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif in Panama Papers case on July 28 last year, was apparently sidelined due to his criticism of the anti-judiciary and anti-establishment stance adopted by the former primer and some of his close aides in the wake of his ouster.
In the recent months, the former interior minister had strongly responded to various statements of Sharif as well as his daughter Maryam Nawaz and there were reports that he might part ways with the party of which he was one of the founding members.
Who asked you for party ticket, Nisar asks Maryam
However, at a press conference held at his residence on Saturday, Nisar said, “I am not upset with Nawaz Sharif or the party. I will attend whichever party meeting I am invited to and will stay away when I am not invited.”
He added, “I am not disgruntled and will remain in the party. I stand with the PML-N but not the party which restricts freedom of thought or a party in which regards a difference of opinion as a major crime.”
The former interior minister said he was amongst 20 to 22 founding members of the PML-N, but added that he was the only person from among those people who was still with the party.
"I have never left them but then it is also their responsibility not to leave others behind. I have always shouldered the political burden of Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N, but I am not the kind who picks someone’s slippers," he said.
Talking about his loyalty with the party, he revealed that after the apex court verdict in the Panamagate case, a group of 40 to 45 disgruntled MNAs were ready to leave the party but he advised them stay on.
"If I were upset with the party then, I could have very easily taken 40 to 45 MNAs [with me and left] at the time of Nawaz Sharif's disqualification. But I did not do this because I have never played this game in my entire life. I am not a conspirator,” he said.
He said a number of MNAs came to him and “they still do, but I always tell them to articulate their own views while remaining within the party”.
Nisar said he had always felt pride throughout his political life in expressing his opinion. He said he used to say his party offered the most freedom to differ which no other party offered.
Here, he quoted three examples when leaders of other parties differed with their party leadership and were not treated as he was treated by the PML-N leadership despite airing a divergent view.
Nisar advised Sharif to break free from ‘sycophants’ around him. He also expressed displeasure over his recent remarks that the PML-N would be contesting election against ‘invisible forces’.
Chaudhry Nisar to contest general elections from NA-59, PP-10, PP-14
“Currently our party is in power and such comments are tantamount to making fun of Pakistan in the world,” he said.
He did not either approve of Imran Khan's recent claim that the ruling PML-N had received help from elements within Pakistan Army in the 2013 polls.
“What kind of a message is sent to the world when we cry over our own matters like this,” he said.
The former security czar, however, said ‘everybody knew’ that the military establishment had had a ‘direct role and an indirect role’ in influencing general elections in the past.
Nisar also thanked Imran Khan and other senior PTI leaders for inviting him to their party.
“It is an honour for me. It is probably due to whatever stature I have in politics. I thank them for that. But as of now I am in a party. But I will not remain in a party where there is no freedom of speech," he added.