Nisar raises eyebrows over accountability process

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ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday expressed reservations over the transparency of the accountability process.

“I am not against the ongoing accountability process but it’s not transparent. If the reservations are not addressed it will be plain and simple political victimisation. The country can’t function without opposition,” he said while addressing a press conference.

Nisar said that it is the responsibility of the institutions to pursue accountability and not the government while adding that given the severity of the political crisis gripping the country, remaining silent is perhaps most appropriate in the circumstances.

“The government takes credit of action taken by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Supreme Court (SC). This is making matters controversial. I am not in the government nor in opposition but I believe that the process is controversial. It’s the Supreme Court, not government pursuing accountability against Omni Group,” he said.

“We were once tangled with foreign loans now the risk is of being indebted to loans provided by the friendly states. We have received temporary aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We haven’t yet seen Imran Khan’s claim of self-sufficiency in action.”

The former interior minister lauded Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa for the opening of Kartarpur Corridor as well.

While talking about relations with India, Nisar said that the government should avoid pleading for peace to India, arguing it is against national honour.

“To speak on dialogue on a constant basis is not in Pakistan’s interest,” he said.

Chaudhry Nisar said that his recommendations to senior leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were ignored.

“I suggested them to dilute their direct criticism on army and judiciary,” he said.

“Politics is done on principles. It’s different from friendship,” he said in response to a question about whether he was offered the post of Punjab chief minister.