Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) disgruntled leader and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Friday lamented false remarks against party supremo Nawaz Sharif being attributed to him for the past few days.
Speaking at a press conference, Nisar denied comments attributed to him relating to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that he had already issued a rebuttal of the fake news as well.”The comments that ‘Mian sahib won’t be able to show his face’ and that ‘there are 10 flaws in the PTI and 100 in the PML-N’ were attributed to me,” he said while noting a few statements being attributed to him.”Such words have been attributed to me that I could never have imagined of,” he lamented.
The former interior minister admitted that he had definitely said that he intended to explain his differences with the party chief, at a public meeting in Chakri.He said that several programmes were held and articles were written on an entirely fake news attributed to him some 10 days ago.”I had said that I would not speak about my differences because of Begum Kulsoom’s condition,” he said. He said that he remained silent on several contentious issues such as Nawaz Sharif declaring Sheikh Mujeeb a patriot, horse trading in Senate elections, serious security breach at prime minister’s house in form of Dawn Leaks, Mumbai attacks investigation, and allocation of reserved seats.”I had a disagreement which did not harm Nawaz Sharif. My estrangement was pushed to the limit by several individuals,” he said, adding that it was the first time that his affiliation with Nawaz Sharif was affected and that he would explain the reasons later.
Ch Nisar said that he was not in contact with any political party with regard to seat adjustment, adding, “I am only looking towards Almighty Allah and the people.I’m a human being, mistakes are made…but my intentionsare true. I have 34 years of association with Nawaz Sharif and I gave him whatever suggestion was necessary.” He declared that he will be contesting from four different constituencies, promising that he will soon explain the reasons behind running a solo campaign along with the nature of differences between him and Nawaz.”This is not my style … it isn’t how I do politics even when I’m dealing with my political opponents,” he maintained.”It is your right to obtain information and to publish it … your duty … and I respect that. I absorb the fiercest of remarks issued against me. But these aren’t normal times,” he told the reporters.
Responding to why he didn’t apply for a party ticket, Nisar said that he had never submitted an application or request since 1985, and that interviews are conducted of workers, not federal ministers.”If it was just about the interview, I would have been present there and applied for it. Since 1985, I have never applied for a party ticket.”
Published in Daily Times, June 23rd 2018.
