Iran not involved in anti-Pakistan activities: Nisar

Says Pakistan knows its friends and foes; PML-N govt put Musharraf’s name on ECL on SC’s order; PPP govt remained silent on Musharraf issue for five years; Aitzaz never bothered to come forward in Musharraf case; a few individuals misused Islamabad sit-in

to gain political mileage; terms leaking of PCB reports an embarrassment

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday that Iran was a brotherly Islamic country and the Iranian government had never been an accomplice in negative activities relating to Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House, the minister said that the recent visit of Iranian President Hasan Rouhani to Pakistan proved very successful as detailed discussions were held on scores of issues and ambiguities between the leadership of both sides were ironed out, adding that it is out of the question to think that the Iranian leadership had any ill intentions towards this region.

He said the Iran-Pakistan brotherly relations are very dear to Pakistan and the Iranian government has always assisted Pakistan in any difficulty. Commenting on speculation relating to the association of the Indian spy’s network with Iran, the minister said the issue of the Indian spy will be taken to a logical end and rejected all assumptions relating to any blame on Iran.

He said the Iranian president arrived in Islamabad and held detailed and successful talks with the Pakistani leadership on all prevailing issues and both countries agreed to strengthen economic ties. The minister also quoted his meeting with the Iranian ambassador, saying all issues relating to terrorism and the Indian spy were exchanged in detail. He pinpointed that the government of Pakistan is well aware of who is a friend of Pakistan and who is a foe, adding that the issue of the Indian spy should not be associated with Pak-Iran relations.

Commenting on news relating his meeting with the army chief, Chaudhry Nisar said it was a routine meeting and held in daylight contrary to speculation aired on some sections of the media. 

Dispelling the impression of a secret meeting, he said that he met with the army chief along with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and went to him in the helicopter of the PM House at 03:00pm and this was a routine matter as issues relating to internal security and intelligence issues are discussed in meetings. He said all those politicians and so-called analysts who had done nothing during their tenure, comment on the government with vested interests. He said it has become a fashion that analysts give their personally conceived meanings to issues.

Responding to criticism on the government relating to the removal of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s name from the ECL and his departure from the country, the minister said that the PPP leadership remained silent on this particular issue during the five years of its government and never dared to put his name on the ECL. “It is the PML-N government that rejected the plea of Pervez Musharraf to leave the country three times and put Musharraf on the ECL on the orders of the apex court,” he said.

Nisar also pointed out that the PML-N government appointed a public prosecutor and constituted a special court that completed prosecution in the Musharraf case in five months, adding that the special court on the plea of Musharraf got included the names of three other accomplices including a former prime minister and PCO chief justice in this particular case.

The minister said the PPP leadership remained active in providing legal assistance to Ayyan Ali but the party’s legal stalwart Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan never bothered to come forward in the case of Musharraf.

Talking about the recent sit-in protest, the minister said that three-four individuals misused the gathering at Mumtaz Qadri’s Chehlum to gain political mileage for their vested interests, adding that the government handled the participants of the sit-in with a prudent strategy and all the cabinet ministers were on the same page in tackling protesters. He said that every step was taken with the consultation of cabinet ministers, and the prime minister was taken on board as well.

The minister said there was no coordination between the Punjab government and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to handle these protesters on their entrance in the capital city. “However, whoever patronised their violation to reach Islamabad will be thoroughly interrogated,” he said.

Nisar said that sit-in protesters violated their agreement with the Punjab government and marched towards Islamabad in the thousands. He said all those elements who ransacked Islamabad will be taken to task including all those elements who made hate speeches and used abusive language at D-Chowk against state institutions and the leadership of the country.

Nisar said there was not even a single word for Mumtaz Qadri in the agreement as demonstrated by these protesters that hinted at the fact that they had their own vested interests in disguise of their sit-in. The minister also appreciated the role of media during this sit-in protest and for providing a blackout of the protesters to shun their abusive message. He said that even participants of this sit-in protest were unaware why were they staging the protest. “Being Muslim it is part of our faith to lay our lives down for the honour of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) but what sort of message was given by these so-called faithful people,” asked the minister. “The people had gathered in the name of respect for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but were misled and misguided by a few. The government had to act carefully,” Nisar said.

To a query, Nisar said that the government is going to dismantle D-Chowk and it will not be allowed to turn it into a Hyde Park.

Talking about cricket, the minister said ahead of the World Twenty20 when he discussed the security issue of Pakistan’s cricket team with the prime minister, he also asked to constitute a committee to investigate the Pakistan team’s defeat in the Asia Cup.

“The way reports are being leaked in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is an embarrassment for these living legends like Waqar Younis,” said Nisar.