Nisar regrets use of 'alien' word by Nawaz

Amid praise for archrival Imran Khan for his invitation to join PTI, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Saturday rubbished the rumors of jumping ship. He warned that the malicious campaign against him must stop. "I would also like to thank Imran Khan, it is and it should be an honour for me, for getting invitation from a leader of a major party and its leaders to join [PTI], but I am still with the party [PML-N] and not in such a party where are restrictions on speaking free mind," he said.
Nisar first took media queries related to the controversies and the rumors about his future politics, and after a few minutes break came up with a response, saying: "I would like to respond all the queries asked, but if I don't any, it means I don't want to touch that particular question." "I just wanted to clarify to party leadership and workers about my present political standing today that I haven't quit the party and that I am not upset with the party...I've neither asked anything from the party in the past nor demanding anything now", Chaudhry Nisar said while addressing a news conference.
After disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as a prime minister in Panama Papers case, he said, there was 'storm' within the PML-N MNAs. "If I was upset with the party then I could have very easily taken 40 to 45 MNAs, but I did not because I have never played this game in my life. I am not a conspirator," he said.
He said a number of MNAs and ministers are still in contact with him "but I always advise them to articulate their point of view while remaining within the party". "A few of those who left the party did contact me. I tried to stop them, but I could not," he said. He also dismissed the speculations, saying that he was not part of any 'independent group', adding that he did not take dictation from anyone and that he would not stop speaking his mind.
Nisar said he voted in favour of Nawaz Sharif in his election as the party head, adding that in every legislative move, he always voted for the government. "I would have not done that if I was upset with the party," he said, adding that he was the only founding member of the PML-N who is still loyal to the party while there are 70 percent of those who left the party and joined again.
He further said he had serious reservations on the party candidates for the Senate elections, adding that four of the party candidates were those who were part of the Musharraf government while four others were those who were 'staff officers' and had nothing to do with politics. "Despite that I went and voted for the party," he added.
"So where did I commit disloyalty with the party? People do everything for getting ministerial portfolios, but I gave up my ministry so that my stance does not become a problem for the leadership," he added.
"But let me ask as to what standard you have set for keeping people in the party? Do you want the old loyalist or you need flatterers?" he asked. He also made it clear that he will not step on other people's toes. "I have neither quitted the party nor have any ambitions. What would be the future? There are two to three months [prior to the elections], and it is responsibility of the leadership to decide as to how the party would be run," he added.
He said Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were engaged in taunting him in their speeches through one or another way, but this stopped when he responded. "Now there is another personal servant, who used to sit with Nawaz Sharif in his car and is a frequent visitor to Jati Umra, is engaged in a campaign against me," he said. "I have always shouldered the political burden of Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N, but I am not the kind who carries shoes for someone," he added.
Referring to Sharif's statement that "PML-N will be up against hidden forces and 'celestial beings" in the upcoming general elections, Nisar said the statement was regrettable and even Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who seconded Sharif's statement, was extremely disappointing.
"If there are any reservations or concerns, the prime minister should have called Army Chief, DG ISI and DG MI and other concerned or even convene a meeting of the National Security Committee to share these facts and evidence with the military leadership," he said.
He also did not approve Imran Khan's recent claim that the ruling PML-N had help from elements within Pakistan Army in the 2013 elections. "What kind of message is sent to the world when we cry over our own matters?" he said, adding that everybody knew that the military establishment has had a "direct and indirect role" in influencing general elections in the past. "The army doesn't do anything, it is leaders who do," he said, adding that certain matters should not be brought in the public domain.
Sharing his concerns over the 'threats' posed to the national security, he said: "Nobody is thinking responsibly." He said the main reasonability of normalizing the situation lays on the shoulder of Nawaz Sharif, adding, "being a three-time premier and two-time chief minister and a senior most political leader in the country, take any such decision for the sake of the country, not only me but also the entire country will be standing by you." Further expressing his loyalty with the party, he said he has a military background and even had relations with Pervez Musharraf from the days when he was Colonel, but he quitted his relationship for the sake of party.