Nisar also called for a judicial commission to be formed to investigate the allegations that Ahsan made against him.
“Appoint whichever judge you want,” Nisar said stoically. “If there is even 1% of evidence for the allegations, then I will resign from politics altogether, let alone the ministry,” he said, before ending the press conference. He did not take any questions.
Over the past 48 hours, the spat between Aitzaz Ahsan and Chaudhry Nisar had eclipsed the prevailing political crisis, culminating in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif officialy apologising to Ahsan and Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah for Nisar’s angry tirade against Ahsan on Thursday evening, on the parliament floor.
Nisar accused Ahsan of being a lawyer for the land mafia and of landing lucrative LPG gas deals from favourable quotas.
On Friday, Ahsan had the chance to respond, and had his own allegations to make against Nisar, questioning his – and his late brother’s – loyalty to Sharif and to democracy in general. When Nisar got up to respond, despite Nawaz visibly persuading him not to, the call for Azaan rang and the session was adjourned. Saturday’s press conference was Nisar’s first public appearance since Friday morning’s parliament session.
“My dignity is very important for me,” he said. “If I have no dignity in politics, then there is no point in me staying in politics anymore,” Nisar said.
Despite Nisar’s anger, he had received immense pressure from within the party, not least from Nawaz himself, to move on. In Saturday’s press conference, Nisar seemed to be begrudgingly doing so.
“My personal feelings about the incident are not important,” says Nisar, adding that while his sentiments matter, preserving democracy in Pakistan is much more important. “I have decided to let go of yesterday events, keeping my dignity aside.”
In an apparent show of indignation, Nisar asked an FIR to be registered so that Ahsan’s allegations against him can be investigated. He alluded to his fallible character, calling himself a “sinner” more than once, but said that he always stood for “rights and justice”, and was confident in his innocence. Nisar goaded Ahsan to pick any judge of his choosing – a reporter at the press conference suggested former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry – and stipulated that if even 1% of his allegations are true, he would resign from politics altogether.
(The story was compiled by Saim Saeed)
COMMENTS (8)
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1732549780-0/Speaker-Na-photo-22_04_2014-(1)1732549780-0-270x192.webp "negotiations underway between government pti over sit in venue")
It was strange to see Tehmina Doltana and other PMLN leaders requesting Aitzaz Ahsan to become quiet, when at the same time their as well as Nawaz Sharif's efforts to silence their own party member, Ch. Nisar, were falling through. The one, who can't follow the party discipline, doesn't belong to the party.
Trojan Horse.
Charges leveled against Ch. Nisar are serious and concrete. They can't be pushed under the rug of a judicial commission. He has already proven himself to be the most incompetent interior ministers of all times, and is also responsible for bringing the government to its knees. He must have been fired a long time ago.
Bluff Master is again bluffing.
“If there is even 1% of evidence for the allegations, then I will resign from politics altogether, let alone the ministry”
Like your guru Shahbaz Sharif has resigned after the findings of the judicial commission. Stop this drama now. We know you lie, cheat, deceive, extort, run land mafia. You are left with little credibility.
It is possible that NISAR has been resisting the land mafia in the Rawalpindi Division where he has some clout. Thus, this is possibly the reason of conflict. Just because some minister has contacts with the "establishment," it does not prove that his is a tout of establishment. All should refrain from accusations without proof. That Nisar was persuaded by NS to stay on is a good move. And, Nisar's standing in my eyes has increased manifold by his decision to set aside his urge to respond to Aitazaz, to agree to not resign, and to let bygones be bygones, all these acts speaks volumes of his sound judgment and personal sacrifice for the good of democracy, for the good of the nation, and for the good of the State. I salute you, Choudhry Nisar. (Not a PML supporter.)
A professional lawyer's job is to defend his/her client no matter what they are. Just like doctor's job is to provide medical care to all victims as well as the attackers. By taking a case of a murderer a lawyer or by treating a murderer a doctor does not become a murderer or criminal. It is the call of their duty. Each alleged has a right to an attorney and unless there is a conflict of interest the lawyers have to oblige. Nisar is a tout of establishment and has not rendered any sacrifices for democracy. He is nothing compared to a Titan like Dr. Ahsan.
Aitzaz Ahsan was dubbed as land-mafia because he had been winning notorious cases, which infact is because that is his job and not a part of his character. Anyhow, FIR should be against Imran Khan and he should be asked to prove for what he has been indicting others with. If he cannot prove it then he should not lead PTI, and let some honest person lead the party.