Another long session: PM, Nisar hold post patch-up talks

Some sources believe that the two discussed issues related to internal security and volatile political situation.

ISLAMABAD:

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan held another marathon session with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday as he resumed his work at the head of the interior ministry. The one-on-one meeting lasted for around three hours but no official word came out after it.

However, some sources believed that the two discussed issues related to internal security and fragile political situation especially in the wake of next month’s proposed protest march by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and threats emanating from smaller groups like Dr Tahirul Qadri.



It was Nisar’s second meeting with the PM since his assumed patch-up with the top leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Sunday.

An MNA close to Chaudhry Nisar told The Express Tribune that Nisar was still upset over the government’s handling of the trial of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf under high treason charges.

It is said that Nisar – through some intermediaries – had been playing a role to defuse tension with the military establishment on the issue of Musharraf.

“I think Nisar had given some words to the concerned quarters that if Musharraf appears before the special court and the court frames charges, the government could find some way out to send him abroad,” said a PML-N leader on the condition of anonymity.

Nisar had earlier hinted that he might leave for treatment abroad, but the party leadership was of the view that if he leaves the country – even for a medical check-up – at this juncture, it would give a wrong impression.

“Nisar in a recent meeting had told a delegation of the PML-N members that he had two more episodes and fainted after his angiography last month, in which doctors declared his health condition satisfactory,” a PML-N source said.

Another source also confirmed that in the same meeting, Nisar had hinted that he was considering going abroad for a medical check-up. Chaudhry Nisar’s family – including his wife and children are US nationals while he himself holds a Pakistani passport.

Another contentious issue was non allocation of funds in this year’s budget to implement the national security policy that Nisar’s ministry had drafted.

Nisar, in a statement on Monday, had accused one of his cabinet colleagues of planting stories against him. He did not mention the name of the minister, but it is assumed that he was referring to Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who also holds the additional charge of the defence ministry.

Some media reporters claim that a reshuffle in the cabinet was imminent. It is also stated that Nisar wants Abdul Qadir Baloch, a retired general, as defence minister.  On the other hand, it is said that a group of cabinet members have been lobbying to give the charge of the interior ministry to Baloch – a proposal not acceptable to Nisar.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2014.