Will be compelled to quit PML-N if party is made a ‘housemaid’, says Nisar

• Former interior minister says he no longer enjoys same relation with Nawaz he once had

ISLAMABAD: Upset with the current “advisers” of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former interior minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made it clear that he would be compelled to leave the party if it continued to be treated like “ghar ki laundi” (housemaid).

Speaking at an interview with a private news channel on Saturday, the former interior minister warned that if the party, which he co-founded along with Nawaz Sharif and other senior leaders 34 years ago, turned into a family affair than he would have no relation with it.

Nisar has made it clear on multiple occasions that he will not remain a part of the PML-N if Maryam Nawaz becomes its leader. He also admitted that he no longer enjoyed same warmth and ties with Nawaz Sharif he once had.

Sharing his view on the meeting between Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Nisar said their meeting could not bring improvement in the confrontation between the PML-N and judiciary but has complicated the situation even more.

He feared that Shehbaz Sharif may not be given credit for his hard work for the party. He added, “I doubt Shehbaz Sharif would be allowed to use the mandate he has been given after being elected as the PML-N president.”

He further said that a lot of improvement in the party affairs would be visible if the Punjab CM was allowed to perform freely as the party head.

Terming the political collaboration between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari while electing the Senate chairman recently a ‘good omen’, Nisar said that despite the political differences, there would be no issues joining hands with Zardari if the two can share the same ideology.

Discussing his affairs with the PTI chief, he said that he had been in a good friendship with Imran Khan, however, he refused any diplomatic relationship with him.

Responding to another question, the former interior minister said that it was party’s obligation to decide from which constituency he will contest for the forthcoming elections.

Commenting on Shehbaz Sharif’s ongoing visit to London, Nisar said that misgivings regarding the trip were being spread deliberately and the former had only gone to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Criticising PM Abbasi’s visit to the United States, the disgruntled PML-N leader said that the prime minister’s meeting with the US vice president was a practical implementation of the US’ anti-Pakistan policy. He said that he didn’t understand the purpose of the prime minister’s meeting with the US vice-president.

He suggested that “we should not give an opportunity to the US administration to dictate us”, adding that one-sided dictation should be discouraged.