- Interior Minister Nisar decides not to retaliate against PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan’s charges for ‘sake of democracy and parliament’
- Proposes judicial probe into allegations against him, tells PPP leader to choose the judges
- Says he will resign from office and leave politics if allegations are proved to be true
- Aitzaz welcomes Nisar’s decision, says truce has foiled ‘Plan D’ of anti-democracy forces
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Saturday claimed that the “pro-democracy forces” had been able to thwart the “Plan D” of hidden forces bent upon sending the parliament home after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced in a press conference earlier in the evening that he had decided not to retaliate to the allegations levelled against him and his dead brother by the PPP senator on the floor of the House, suggesting instead the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the charges.
Addressing reporters, Nisar said that Aitzaz’s speech during the joint sitting of parliament should be considered as an “FIR” against him and the opposition leader should himself propose judges to hold an impartial enquiry.
“I will not only resign from my post but also leave politics for good if even one per cent of allegations are proved against me,” the interior minister asserted. Nisar added that he was ready to accept Justice (r) Wajihuddin and Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood as the commission members.
Nisar lamented that he was not given a chance to respond to Aitzaz’s “personal attacks” on him, his family and his late brother. However, as per the desire of prime minister and senior leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he had decided to “ignore” the allegations, he said.
“For the sake of Pakistan’s democracy and parliament, I have decided to set aside my self-respect and ignore Friday’s events,” the minister said.
Nisar said that he got messages from across the country to show patience as Pakistan’s politics, democracy and parliament were passing through a critical time.
“I am the biggest critic of Nawaz Sharif on his face and his biggest defender on his back. I have remained loyal with only one party ever since I joined politics. I act according to my conscience and do politics only to gain respect.”
AHSAN PRAISES NISAR’S APOLOGY:
Following Nisar’s press conference, Aitzaz praised the minister’s move saying that forgiveness was a significant step towards the country betterment. He also supported minister’s call to “forgive everyone” who levelled allegations during parliament’s joint session.
While talking to a private TV channel, Aitzaz reiterated that he had the right to criticise the government, but added that the “truce” had foiled “Plan-D” of the government’s detractors.
Aitzaz said that “Plan A” failed as one million Pakistanis did not gather in protests while “Plan B” had failed after the parliament’s joint session.
How things fell apart
A much-touted unity of parliament against a siege by protesters threatening Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government was thrown into disarray on Thursday when Nisar launched a tirade against Leader of Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan, accusing the PPP senator of using “politics for business” and being “the representative and facilitator of (an unspecified) biggest land mafia of the country”.
The PPP had demanded that Nisar apologise or be sacked.
In an attempt to defuse the situation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif apologised to both Aitzaz and NA opposition Leader Khurshid Shah on Friday, the fourth day of the joint sitting of the two houses.
Nawaz’s apology was not however followed by an outright apology by Nisar on Saturday.
During Friday’s session, Aitzaz had appeared to be seeking Nisar’s removal by suggesting that the prime minister should reshuffle his cabinet. He also made references to Nisar’s alleged involvement in wrongdoings by Punjab revenue officials in Rawalpindi, and cited an alleged hesitation of a brother of the minister as defence secretary to notify the appointment of a new army chief on Oct 12, 1999. This Aitzaz said had given other generals time to lead a coup against Nawaz Sharif after he had sacked army chief General Pervez Musharraf.
Aitzaz also indirectly accused the interior minister of betraying Nawaz, with an eye on his job.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari deplored the exchange between the two men, calling it “unfortunate”. However, he hastened to add that Ahsan was “justified” in his outburst, but the PPP would not make it a sticking point with the ruling party.
During Friday’s proceedings, Nisar looked very agitated as the opposition continued to take potshots at him. The PM was seen repeatedly asking Nisar to stay calm as an enraged Aitzaz rambled on.
His behaviour obviously disturbed the prime minister who called Nisar and urged him not to engage in this exchange any further.