PM, Shahbaz apologise over Nisar’s tirade against Aitzaz

E-Paper | May 16, 2026

ISLAMABAD: In a surprising development, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan stirred up a controversy on Thursday with a frontal attack on PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan, accusing him of using the name of the late Benazir Bhutto for business interests and personal gains and being a facilitator of the biggest land mafia in the country.

The charges levelled at Senator Ahsan at what appears to be an inopportune time for the government immediately prompted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take damage control measures. They separately called Mr Ahsan and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah, to apologise over the remarks.

Mr Shah advised them to ask the interior minister not to create tension at a time when the opposition was trying to end the impasse between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

Senater Ahsan himself said he would come up with a befitting reply in the joint session of Parliament on Friday. A spokesman for Khursheed Shah said the Leader of the Opposition told the Sharif brothers that the PPP could have come up with an appropriate response, but chose not to vitiate the atmosphere.

The interior minister had said that Mr Ahsan treated politics as business.

“I know where he is speaking from. He is a representative and facilitator of the biggest land mafia in the country,” Chaudhry Nisar remarked.

“I have no respect for a person like him. Right from the LPG quota to using planes of a particular mafia, there is a contradiction in his words and deeds,” he said.

In a recent speech in the joint session of Parliament, Mr Ahsan had endorsed the allegations of rigging in last year’s general elections levelled by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

He accused the federal and Punjab governments of mishandling the situation in Model Town and said police wanted to remove barriers from outside the residence of Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadir, but they were ordered to block several roads with containers.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2014

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Pakistan

Iftikhar A. Khan is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over three decades of experience in journalism. He covers the parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the Interior Ministry.

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AdHawk

Sep 05, 2014 06:32am

'Aaa bael mujhay maar'

Recommend 0

Sher

Sep 05, 2014 06:49am

Why you told all the Parlimentarian that there is corruption, elections were rigged and so on and on?

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Karachi Wala

Sep 05, 2014 06:57am

Ch. Nisar will remain Ch. Nisar.

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Mustafa

Sep 05, 2014 07:02am

Mr. Ahsan essentially said, the elections were rigged but an election is an election anyway.

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Jamsher Murad Kholhi

Sep 05, 2014 07:34am

PML(N) sounds very frustrated and reacting like dear in headlight.

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sami

Sep 05, 2014 07:51am

Nisar's remarks clearly show that how PMLn will treat all opposition parties when it will come out of this crisis.

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Atif

Sep 05, 2014 08:28am

the way i see it...... its always a few good men standing up against big giants of lies/corruption/evil. Imran and Quadri might not be the best spokespersons but they are not thieves like all other people are who are standing up against them. Win or not, you always have to speak up the truth and stand up for your right. These people who stood up for common people of Pakistan will be remembered in history.

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xulfjan

Sep 05, 2014 08:28am

Here you go....the filth is coming out from all corners of this corrupt parliament...I suppose that is a good thing as they are talking about it but than again they unite to make sure that nothing is done about it!!

Recommend 0

Jawad

Sep 05, 2014 08:33am

I've written periodically. Our interior ministers has high ambitions. He may be eyeing what NS has.

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Talha

Sep 05, 2014 08:38am

An articulate man like Aitzaz Ahsan seems to be in wrong party. If one thinks about a party of educated people then Aitzaz Ahsan should be a part of PTI. Now it is up to him to whether he wants to stay with PPP which hasn't done much in any of its tenure or if he wants to at least try and bring a positive change in Pakistan by providing PTI with his vast knowledge and experience. One thing is for sure that he would gain loads more of respect in PTI than PPP because PTI values people with education and experience.

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sfox

Sep 05, 2014 08:52am

They are playing noora khusti burying bad news about revelations about showbaz justice qayum tape and hashmi conversationwith kulsoom nawaz saad rafique and hussain nawaz biz partner prior 2 walking out of pti ..you don't fool many

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AbidRashid

Sep 05, 2014 08:57am

Jiyala got golden opportunity to bash PML-n, how can he miss out, afterall his wife was defeated in elections...

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Khwaja

Sep 05, 2014 09:42am

The rain has washed away their masks, true colors showing now!

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Tariq Masud

Sep 05, 2014 09:49am

It is this "Politics" that Imran is trying to change. Each and every member sitting in both houses have numerous cases against them, primarily of corruption and no one is bothered. NS, SS and Zardari and the rest have enjoyed the fruits of "Politically motivated cases" no one even gets surprised, when there is a mention of $200 billion in Swiss banks. These politician have to go, only then "New Pakistan" can be made.

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Abassin

Sep 05, 2014 09:55am

And I always thought that among the PML-N, gang of bumblers-Chaudhry Nisar is the only sane voice of reason. Alas, it seems he too has contracted the foot and mouth disease so prevalent in the Pakistani politicians. But then again, it could be due to the company he has kept for all these years, including the proximity of the seat he occupies in the parliament-which may have contributed to his mental state, hence the ill-conceived attack on a fellow parliamentarian. Chaudhry Sahib with your continued flip flops in and outside the parliament-and the bloopers of your leader you are sure to lose the war of your political survival.

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Masoud

Sep 05, 2014 10:05am

Weak Nawaz & Shahbaz cannot afford to irk PPP without whom they cannot survive a day in the assembly. Better fire Nisar for playing with fire

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Samad

Sep 05, 2014 11:16am

@Sher Why are you reacting so badly if he told the parliment all these? You are the BIGGEST supporter of "DEMOCRACY". Don't you know that the basic rule of democracy for which you are crying since long and that is "FREEDOM OF SPEECH". Your democracy allow to speak only the things which is in your favour and FOR YOUR KIND INFORMATION IT NOT A DEMOCRACY. So stop crying for the democracy.

Recommend 0

Sep 05, 2014 11:17am

As always instead of being constructive and resolving nations issues, these guys have time for everything but that.

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think_then_speak

Sep 05, 2014 11:46am

Aitizaz spoke like a principle politician. It was largely intended to produce an image that PPP is not totally with government. These speeches in which government is criticized was their right and it made them neutral, thus Rahman Malik role become more important as neutral negotiator. However, Mr. Nisar read the speeches of PPP in wrong context and made more damage then the intended good. Instead of becoming personal with PPP and even with PTI and PAT the minister needs to be neutral and objective so the impasse would end.

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Imran Ahmed

Sep 05, 2014 11:49am

Aitzaz Ahsan has a powerful mind. He is a gifted orator. He reached the pinnacle of his profession and also succeeded in amassing fame, fortune and high political office during his stellar career. He was a whisker away from becoming PPP leader and/or PM at one point. He led a successful Long March to restore judiciary. Shame about his integrity. Too many compromises.

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chodhary

Sep 05, 2014 11:54am

opposition and govt are the two sides of the same coin everybody knows that... and all this TOPI DRAMA is nothing but a fabricated tussle to defuse this common impression.

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Lyallpuri

Sep 05, 2014 01:44pm

Aitazaz Ahsan should abandon politics, he is a fine man or has his own party

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Adil

Sep 05, 2014 02:04pm

This just goes to prove that all these parliamentarians are corrupt, they are just uniting to keep looting the country, may Allah support Imran Khan and Tahir Ul Qadri, we need to clean this country of corrupt parties and politicians otherwise there is no point in democracy.

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Hasnain

Sep 05, 2014 02:43pm

Ch. Nisar... Was you the one who failed NS two times already? umm... you naughty ;)

Recommend 0

Sep 05, 2014 02:57pm

Why dont you all apologize to the nation!! These guys will never learn!!

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Dija

Sep 05, 2014 03:16pm

Indeed quite embarrassing to see how the current prime minister is stooping so low only to protect his seat at the cost of his self respect and ego; going completely overboard by driving the car himself to receive dear Mr Zardari, offering more than sixty dishes and now apologizing over a comment given by his own member - the sacrifice of the ego cannot only be for the seat - rather there is much more than that. Are there business deals involved on the name of the country that appears to be at stake?

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mian

Sep 05, 2014 03:18pm

@Atif you said it wonderfully.For the first time in our history, someone like IK&TUQ gave clear sense of common people,s rights and courage to speak against untouchable corrupts of elite class. This is the biggest gain of these protests.This new thinking against elite corrupts will be a blessing one day for our country. Thank you IK&TUQ.thank you for both on behalf of our coming generations.

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Mr.T

Sep 05, 2014 03:57pm

yeh drama hai, dosro ko dikhanay k leay, very simple dunya k samnay laro or ander say aik raho...

Recommend 0

Rehan

Sep 05, 2014 04:00pm

Well the only thing that this News explains is that the protestors claims obout the parliamentarians are true. Allah save all Pakistanis from these Hippocrates and liars.

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Ijaz kashmiri

Sep 05, 2014 04:41pm

Commend Ch Nisar for being courageous and calling a spade a spade. Aetizaz was whining in the Parliament like a Kindergarten baby. LPG quota was given to your wife on political grounds. This is a fact and you know it too; so what are you whining about.......

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gerry d'cunha

Sep 05, 2014 05:00pm

shameless/heartless politicians of pakistan - no respect for democracy

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Ahsan

Sep 05, 2014 05:20pm

I think someone internal or external; behind this drama who are not ready to end this crisis.

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Sadiq

Sep 05, 2014 05:37pm

People no more trust A. Ahsan, C. Nisar, PPP and PML-N. They all are looking for their own personal interest.

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wizarat

Sep 05, 2014 05:50pm

For once Chaudhry Nisar was correct and it applies to every single Parliamentarian though irrespective of his/her affiliation with the political parties.

Recommend 0

mjk

Sep 05, 2014 06:05pm

Aitzaz Ahsan ,the same man who declared that election was rigged, as a lawyer how can he say that there is no guilty party ? All politics , all politics, puppeteer in Garhi KhudaBaksh is pulling the strings. Aitzaz is dancing to the tune he sets.

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NaveedJ

Sep 05, 2014 06:12pm

Here comes the lion of PPP Aitzaz Ahsan, Bravo- what befitting reply to ill-mouthed Nisar!

Recommend 0

Jawad

Sep 05, 2014 06:29pm

"The interior minister had said that Mr Ahsan treated politics as business." Isn't it a business for a lot of politicians ---- may I say Family business.

Recommend 0

Jawad

Sep 05, 2014 06:44pm

Interior and railway ministers are trying their best that NS doesn't survive this. Is something cooking inside PMLN?

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M Saleem chaudhdhry

Sep 05, 2014 08:49pm

It's clear that all of those in power or in parliament have skeletons in their cupboards. So it's a game of kettle calling the pot black. The management of spill over is an additional challenge to the political conflicts.

Recommend 0

Mesh

Sep 05, 2014 10:49pm

Why did Prime Minister apologized Aitzaz on the floor of parliament for Nisar's personal pont of view. Disgusting....

Recommend 0

humaira

Sep 05, 2014 11:51pm

These politic leaders are looking for their own personal interest..... Alas where is democracy ??

Recommend 0

a khan

Sep 06, 2014 03:22am

Musharraf, Altaf, Qadri, Clasra, Aitzaz, Nisar, Sh Rasheed should all dissolve/quit their parties and join PTI for a greater cause. After all they are gods of lesser children, only gods can save Pakistan.

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a khan

Sep 06, 2014 07:26am

@a khan Musharraf, Altaf, Qadri, Clasra, Aitzaz, Nisar, Sh Rasheed should all dissolve/quit their parties and join PTI for a greater cause. We all of children of lesser gods, only God can save Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Key Points

Sep 07, 2014 05:14am

A political move to apologise preventing a PPP walk out, which would have left ruling party virtually alone against PTI and PAT protesters. Strange how easily apology comes out when power is at stake, but not even words of remorse or clear regrets upon shooting down innocent lives of Pakistani citizens. Yes, it is democracy Pakistani style.

Recommend 0

tinker bell

Sep 08, 2014 01:58am

Any apologies offered to 17th june victims by the CM and PM?

Recommend 0

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