Country being encircled: Ch Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the country is being encircled and this fact is known to him, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and two army men. The minister said the premier should forgive and forget if he wins the Panama case and accept the Supreme Court verdict humbly if he loses the case.

Addressing a press conference here at the Punjab House, Chaudhry Nisar said Nawaz Sharif is a gentle person and he has felt his pain. He said that till Wednesday evening, he had decided to step down from the party position and ministerial office. “I had decided exactly as was being speculated but changed my mind after a meeting with my friends,” he said.

The minister said he was fed up of the conventional style of politics as opportunists have made politics a joke for vested interests and these opportunists have got key positions in the PML-N contrary to the basic culture of the party. “God willing, Nawaz Sharif will emerge successful and I will head to the PM’s House to congratulate him,” Nisar said. “I will do the same even if a decision comes against him.” He said being human, he has also committed mistakes but he had never been part of any conspiracy against his leadership since his arrival in politics in 1985.

“Conspiracy has never been in my blood but I had to listen to such allegations for my proximity with the military as my grandfather, my father, my elder brother and my brothers-in-law have been part of security forces,” he said.

Commenting on the prevailing hard times for the PML-N, Nisar said that he had been among the pioneers of the party with PM Nawaz Sharif. Among the old companions, some have switched off to other political parties and some have died but among old companions, no one could be seen either left or right of Nawaz Sharif. He added that neither any ministry nor any public office is dear to him. He said he had decided a couple of days ago to resign from the party position but on the advice of the party leadership he had withheld his decision.

“I pray that Nawaz Sharif comes out victorious from the comes out victoriously from the Panama case, as I have witnessed Nawaz Sharif being a gentle and decent human being,” he said.

Nisar said rumours are being made, but he has no intention or desire for any public office. “I am not part of that race for which some are racing. For me respect does not come with offices but it comes through one's character.

Whatever the decision of the apex court in Panama case, I will be on forefront like a rock,” he maintained.

Nisar stated that the country has been facing severe challenges on external and internal fronts and all these challenges could only be tackled with unity of the nation. Commenting on blame-games, the minister said that he had voiced for civilian authority and for this purpose, despite military family background, he had bitter relations with Pervez Musharraf. “I never compromised over prestige of my political leadership and remained steadfast for civilian authority in the longer interest of the country,” he said. “Contrary to any interest or benefit, I work according to the voice of my conscience and never spoke with irresponsibility on civil-military relations,” he said.

Nisar while talking about his working relationship with PM Nawaz revealed that he has played role of devil's advocate with Nawaz Sharif and kept informing the premier on every wrong act straightforwardly. “The asset of my 33 years political career is that even my opponents are saying that Nisar will not leave PML-N at mercy of crisis at this juncture of time,” he said.

“During my entire political career, I spoke truth to Nawaz Sharif in every situation and never misguided him on any situation contrary to some present well-wishers who use to take the premier on skies of falsehood,” he said. Nisar further revealed that at the cabinet meeting, he told the premier that he knows each and everything about the sitting ministers what was said by them. “I had never been part of any hypocrisy and flattering but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has encircled himself with people having flattering tongue,” he said.

“I had stated categorically in the cabinet meeting that when I have not made complaints against any fellow cabinet ministers why I had to face complaining conduct from others all the time,” he added.

Nisar said he never made accusations against anyone and on DawnLeaks issue. He said he had decided to bring truth before public on allegations that were levelled against him over that issue.

Chaudhry Nisar said he is not a hypocrite to leave Nawaz Sharif and PML-N for any other political voyage. “I want to tell Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed that I am not passenger of any free-train with no destination. I am in love with PML-N, which has been established with our mutual efforts. Being part of PMLN, I never lie to Nawaz Sharif and played my role to speak the truth before party leadership,” he said.

"Once I asked the premier if he get uneasy on my truthful statement, and the premier in reply stated that he likes it," Nisar recalled. “I had not made face to face meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif since last one and half months, and through this media, I want to ask why the prime minister listened to all these people before talking to me directly,” he said.