- Former interior minister says he was sidelined for having a different opinion
- Ch Nisar says he is the only founding member of PML-N left and will not quit
ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chaudhry Nisar has said that he is not dissatisfied with the party and will remain a part of it.
“I am not upset with Nawaz Sharif or the party. I will attend whichever party meeting I am invited to and will stay away when I am not invited,” Nisar said in a press conference on Saturday. He added that he stands with the PML-N, “but not the party which restricts freedom of thought or a party in which having a difference of opinion is a major crime.”
The former interior minister said that while Nawaz Sharif was the leader of the party, there were 25 founding members as well, before adding that he was the only founding member who still remained in the PML-N.
Nisar said that after having stayed loyal to the party throughout, he was disliked only because he shared his difference of opinion, adding, that his advice cannot be considered as disloyalty and that he has no plans or ambitions to leave the party.
“I have not demanded any designation or anything from the party. I have been minister thrice,” he said.
The former interior minister went on to say that the press has freedom and it speculates and runs things as it wishes. He added that his visit to Shehbaz Sharif’s home was misreported, explaining that he enjoyed a personal relationship with the younger Sharif and would call on him every time he was in Lahore.
He revealed that when the issue of Panama Leaks surfaced, he had presented his stance before the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as the interior minister, saying that he was among the few leaders who suggested that Nawaz shouldn’t go to the Supreme Court and when the former prime minister turned towards giving critical speeches, he had advised against it.
Nisar reiterated that he had advised Nawaz to change his tone towards the military and the judiciary, adding that he left his designation for the sake of his stance.
Nisar minced no words about having severe reservations over the PML-N’s choice of candidates but added that he still went and voted for them. He said that despite all his reservations, he stayed with the party.
“Someone should tell me when I showed disloyalty to the party?” said the PML-N senior leader.
Nisar also thanked Imran Khan and his party leaders during the press conference for the invitation from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
