Nisar disappoints many Nawaz opponents

ISLAMABAD: Former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan disappointed many, expecting a bombshell to shock deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), fracturing the unity in its ranks.

His eagerly-awaited, much-hyped presser hardly contained anything controversial or hard-hitting that upset the ex-premier or the PML-N even to a small extent. In fact, he recapitulated the performance, policies and initiatives taken by the interior ministry during his incumbency that produced tangible results in several spheres falling in its domain.

It was widely speculated that Chaudhry Nisar will harshly take on certain leaders of his party and may even quit the PML-N. But at no stage did he drop even a small hint that he is saying goodbye to the PML-N. Discerning elements, knowing the ex-interior minister for decades, never expected such an announcement because he always strongly believes that his first and last party is the PML-N.

However, he did mention having difference of opinion with the leadership that became the fundamental reason not to be part of the cabinet despite insistence of Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till the last moment for which he expressed his gratitude to both. But such difference is no unusual and it does exist in large political parties, which is considered healthy and positive. His view was that an honourable way was to step aside when he has the difference of opinion.

Chaudhry Nisar rather resented the leak of his views that he articulated in a cabinet meeting before Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification and the recent PML-N’s central executive committee session that chose Yaqoob Nasir as the acting party president. Those who released his conversation made behind closed doors are dishonest, he opined.

Saying that his party and its leadership are in a tight spot, he shunned publicizing the reasons for not joining the cabinet. But he said in a country where not even a councilor is disposed to voluntarily leave his office on certain principles, there are clear grounds for his staying away from the cabinet that he would not divulge for now.

But he stuck to his stand of offering no comment, positive or negative, on the Supreme Court-sanctioned disqualification of the former premier and the treatment the Sharif family was meted out in the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for two months. He continues to hold his views on the subject.

Chaudhry Nisar forcefully projected the oft-repeated stand of the government on Pervez Musharraf’s departure from Pakistan and his refusal to return. He referred to the decisions of the special court, the Sindh High Court and the Supreme Court and said they should be read to reach a conclusion as to why the former dictator went abroad.

Musharraf, he stated, told the court and not the interior ministry that he would return after a few weeks following the treatment of his spine. It is the court and not the interior ministry that gets guarantee from him to come back, and the ministry will certainly issue his red warrants if the special court ordered his production, he said.

His difference of opinion with the top leadership that he aired did not harm the PML-N as some subsequently projected because he and those whose policy he doesn’t approve continue to live with it while remaining within the party fold without creating any fissures in it. Both sides have demonstrated a remarkable, high level of tolerance and mutual understanding even when emotions are high and wounds, inflicted by different developments, are very deep, serious and troubling.