Nisar threatens to quit PAC top slot

Leader of opposition in the National Assembly and Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday warned to quit as chief of the parliamentary body on public accounts, if the government failed to implement the previous directives of the PAC.
Nisar who appeared before the media after about two months, spoke cautiously regarding his reported differences with party's central leadership. He, however, did not deny the differences saying that if there were any differences he would discuss inside the party and refused to 'make headlines'. Commenting on various reports published in the press regarding his differences with the central leadership, he did not contradict any news but said some headlines were 'dramatic beyond necessity'.
Chaudhry Nisar also confirmed meeting between PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif and Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz. "I do confirm the meeting that took place with the person (Riaz) despite the fact that the party has denied it," he said, adding that he was told in London when Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Khawaja Asif flew there to meet him. But, Nisar added that he and Nawaz did not discuss Riaz during the meeting saying the person was not so important for them.
He said it was interesting to know about the message the person (Malik Riaz) brought to the party leadership from President Asif Zardari, adding that it was astonishing that the country was passing through worst time of history but the rulers were totally irresponsive to the problems being faced by people.
He declined to disclose the message brought by Riaz to Sharif, but said if it was out, "it will make Yusuf Raza Gilani cry." Informed sources, however, said that the presidency sent a message through Malik Riaz to the PML-N Chief to rejoin the coalition and for that it was also asked to give name of their man for the slot of premiership, which the party rejected.
To a question on the optimism of former speaker National Assembly Haji Nawaz Khokhar to contest next general election form Chaudhry Nisar's constituency - NA-52 Rawalpindi, the leader of the opposition said he was not scared of Khokhar as he is not an important personality rather, he added that it would be a problem for him if a 'pious' person was there to contest the polls against him, adding Almighty Allah always favour His pious people. Khokhar is reportedly preparing grounds with the help of Malik Riaz to contest the next general election against Chaudhry Nisar from his constituency.
Nisar further said that he does not have his own policy but was pursuing the policy of the party, which he said was very clear. As far as my problem is concerned, he said he did not recover from the illness completely, adding he has been member of the party for the last 26 years, rather, he said he was the founding member of the PML-N and laid foundation of Pakistan Muslim League along with Mian Nawaz Sharif despite the fact that the then martial law administrator General Zia-ul-Haq was against the move. "There are issues inside the party but I don't want to make headlines and differences would be resolved within the party," he maintained.
He also clarified that he went abroad for his medical treatment on the advice of Mian Nawaz Sharif and had check-up from his family physician in London. To a question, Nisar vowed that he would recover all the occupied land, which according to him has been illegally occupied by Malik Riaz, adding that a large area of land of the poor people of Rawalpindi, a portion of forest land and a government road have been encroached by the housing society. He said he was firm on his stance and warned he would speak openly if any body tried to create hurdles in his way.
To another query whether his party's leaders Senator Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's son Hamza Shahbaz have a joint venture with Malik Riaz, the leader of the opposition expressed his ignorance. He accused Malik Riaz of being a front man not only of the GHQ but also of President Zardari, former President Pervez Musharraf and the Chaudhry's' as well, adding that the person has even 'purchased' the country's institutions along with Presidency.
Earlier, the leader of the opposition came harsh on the present government and termed Zardari regime and those in the alliance as bigger 'curse' than the Musharraf's era, adding that the country was on the verge of its destruction but the rulers were busy in making and breaking the alliances only to give extension to their rule.
Referring to the alleged reluctance of the government to implement directives of the PAC, Nisar said he had decided to announce his resignation in the press conference but the party leadership stopped him for the reason to give an opportunity to the government. He said the next meeting of the PAC would be convened on August 25 or 26 and by the period the government should appoint permanent and non-controversial Auditor General and implement the previous directives regarding NLC, Interior Ministry and CDA, otherwise, he warned that he would not be part of the PAC.
The PAC chairman was of the view that the government was worried about its alleged corruption that the parliamentary committee is scheduled to take up in its next meeting. He also expressed reservations over the present acting auditor general, saying the same person also occupied the slot during Musharraf era.
He appreciated the performance of the PAC saying that the committee recovered Rs 115 billion receivables during the last three years from 1988 to 2008. Giving details, he said the PAC recovered Rs 19.4 billion in first year after it came into force. In its second year, he said it added Rs 24 billion to the exchequer while a record amount of Rs 70 billion was recovered and added to the exchequer during the third year.
He claimed that the amount recovered during the last three years was more than the previous 40 years and all the decisions were taken with consensus by the PAC in this regard. He said the government was in chaos when the PAC decided to take up its first year record and likewise its attitude with judiciary. The rulers also wanted to make the parliamentary body dysfunctional by sending the previous auditor general home without recognising his past performance.