PML-N remains immune to intra-party split, says Nisar

–Says attack on Noorani was attacking freedom of opinion

KALLAR SYEDAN: Terming the rumour of intra-party split within Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as “difference of opinion”, former interior minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan said that “the differences of opinion are the essence of democracy”.

Speaking to a gathering in Kallar Syedan on Saturday, the former minister reiterated that the PML-N was united in the face of internal conflicts.

In an earlier address in Murree, he had said that he along with ousted prime minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif had laid the founding stone of the party.

Nisar, while commenting on the Pakistan-US relations, said the parliament has given a strong message the United States, adding that the recovery of the detained American-Canadian couple has nothing to do with the improved and more stable relations between the two countries.  He stressed that it is the government’s job to also stay united on its resolve in the future too.

Nisar was critical of Pakistan’s softening attitude towards India, saying that “I don’t like the fact that Pakistan is cosying up to the Modi-government, as “it will be foolish to expect anything good from Modi, whose agenda is based on anti-Muslim sentiments”.

He rebuked Modi for openly expressing unity with the Myanmar government — responsible for Rohingya Muslims’ genocide. Nisar further said, “Can anything good be expected from such a man”, adding that Pakistan has no need to pick wars but it is important that the nation remains steadfast in the face of internal and external threats.

Nisar also expressed his strong disapproval of an attack on The News journalist Ahmed Noorani, saying it was an attack on freedom of opinion and he was one of the first few people who registered a strong protest against the attack. Nisar said violence cannot entail silence, adding these voices cannot be suppressed by the use of force.