—Former interior minister says PML-N has curbed right to differ within its ranks
ISLAMABAD: Former Interior Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar said on Monday that he will leave PML-N if attempts are made to elevate Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, to the highest position in the party.
He also said that he always supported the policy of non-confrontation with the Supreme Court (SC).
While giving an interview to a private television channel, Chaudhry Nisar said, “Nawaz Sharif must follow the legal path over his concerns pertaining to the apex court’s verdict. Sharif has been brainwashed into believing that his party would win public sympathy if he is jailed. I believe the opposite would happen,” Nisar asserted.
“The verdict of the apex court must be implemented in its true letter and spirit. If the verdict of the Supreme Court is wrong, the onus is on us as we took the case (Panama Papers case) to the court. I was the only one in the party who opposed the strategy of taking the case to the apex court,” Nisar claimed.
While responding to a question on freedom of speech within the ruling party, Nisar claimed that the culture of supporting a difference of opinion had been curbed completely within PML-N’s ranks.
On a question pertaining to former President General (r) Pervez Musharraf, Nisar revealed that the federal government had allowed Musharraf to leave the country as a result of a written agreement. He said, “The legal counsel of Pervez Musharraf had assured the SC of his return after receiving medical treatment abroad. Therefore, the onus is on the apex court, and not on us (PML-N).”
Nisar termed Raza Rabbani as the best Senate chairman in Pakistan’s history and deplored the appointment of Saleem Mandviwalla as Senate deputy chairman.
Replying to a question on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Nisar said that he had informed the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he could not unleash personal criticism on the PTI chairman. The former interior minister dismissed rumours about maintaining any contacts with Khan.
