Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday expressed his frustration towards the national politics during a twice-postponed press conference but at the same time announced that he will not leave the party at this difficult time and remain steadfast with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif irrespective of what verdict the Supreme Court announces in the Panama Papers case.

While endorsing the speculations about his resignation, Nisar said, “I can’t even think of leaving the party but it is a fact that I had decided to resign from the National Assembly seat and the ministerial post on the day the top court announced its verdict [in the Panama Papers case].”

“I am proud of my constituency which has sent me to parliament again and again. My biggest privilege is that I am a member of the National Assembly and represent 500,000 people of my constituency, the minister said. “I am now fed up as politics has become a joke and a pack of lies. Last evening, I had decided to resign but have changed my decision after meeting with few party members,” he added.

The press conference on Thursday came hours after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met Ch Nisar in Islamabad, a second meeting between the two party leaders in less than 24 hours. Shahbaz was reportedly accompanied by other PML-N leaders including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

“God willing, Nawaz Sharif will emerge successful and I will rush to the PM House to congratulate him,” Nisar said. “I will go even if decision comes against him. I will advise the premier to react very carefully following the outcome of the case,” he said. “Do not react harshly towards your political rivals if decision comes in your favour…and if it comes against you, adopt the policy of forgiving and forgetting,” he added.

Referring to an earlier statement by Sheikh Rasheed about him, Nisar clarified, “People say I have missed the train. I want to tell them I am not travelling through a misguided train. I am amongst the few who stood with Nawaz Sharif from day one and that too without any greed or lust. I can’t even think of leaving PML-N at this time.”

“Throughout my life, I have spoken truth to Nawaz Sharif. There’s never been any duplicity in my intentions. My role was of the whisperers who would tell Caesar: ‘Caesar you’re human’,” the minister said.

However, he complained to the prime minister, “When people talked negative about me, it was your duty to stop them and maintain discipline within party ranks. I have the names and places, where people spoke against me and you listened to.”

“I have been a part of all important meeting since 1985 but was not invited to party meetings for last one and a half month despite being the senior most member of the party,” he added.

“Hatching conspiracies is not in my blood and nobody should even think about it. But It pains me to say that whenever the PML-N was faced with the most difficult challenge, there was a conspiracy to keep me away from the consultative process,” he added.

Referring to criticism within the party regarding his closeness with Pakistan Army, the minister said, “I am proud of my family’s military background as my grandfather, father, brother, brothers-in-law and even nephews are in armed forces. But I never compromised my political affiliation over my family’s military background.”

Nisar said contrary to media reports, he was not angry with the party leadership. He claimed he did not inform anyone regarding this press conference.

Earlier, a section of media, soon after interior minister’s press conference, reported that he had decided to resign soon after the announcement of Panama case verdict. A spokesman of the interior ministry later clarified that this was the position until Thursday morning by Ch Nisar changed his decision after meeting ‘few friends’ in the day.

Published in Daily Times, July 28^th , 2017.