I wonder which Pakistan Zardari was talking about: Chaudhry Nisar

“The Pakistan, that we live in, is in a state of misery” says Nisar.

ISLAMABAD: “I wonder which Pakistan [President Asif Ali] Zardari was talking about,” remarked Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressing his ‘utter surprise’ over the president’s fifth parliamentary address on Saturday.

“The Pakistan, that we live in, is in a state of misery,” Nisar told the media. He questioned how the president could deliver such a confident speech after "what he has done" to the country.

“I was astounded at Zardari’s speech.”

For nine years, a dictator kept paralysing the nation at gun point and then whatever was left was fulfilled by Zardari, he added.

Nisar, in a questioning tone, further asked “Zardari said that government did a lot for Balochistan. What have they done?”

The opposition tried disrupting the president’s speech in the parliament by chanting slogans against him and later walked out in protest. The opposition leaders had gone into Nisar’s chamber.

“We thought it would be a big joke if Zardari talks and we keep listening to him silently,” commented Nisar on the protest, adding that all opposition parties of the country were a part of the protest.

‘Pasha’s retirement orphaned an inqilabi party’

When questioned regarding the retirement of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Nisar said that he is not sad about the retirement, however “an inqilabi party has been orphaned”.

He added that he did not have any personal differences with the ISI chief and whatever he has ever said on the issue is on the record.

Pasha is due to retire on March 18 while Lt Gen. Zaheerul Islam will take over his position as his successor.

‘Everyone knows who started extortions’

Commenting on Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) protests against extortions, Nisar said everyone knows who started extortion in Karachi.

Narrating an example, Nisar said that it seems as if the robbers during a robbery mingle among the neighbours when they create uproar and start shouting against the robbers themselves.

“There is one party who shouts and creates a ruckus and then all of a sudden, a call comes and everything is past and forgotten… We all know which political party does this every time,” Nisar said while remarking on MQM’s call to boycott the presidential address earlier and then taking back the call.