Nisar to clarify stance on Aitzaz Ahsan in press conference

Dawn.com Mateen Haider Published September 6, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given conditional permission to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to hold a press conference at 6 pm today after the latter's assurance that he would not speak against Senator Aitzaz Ahsan and would remove the misunderstanding that arose between the two because of his unsavoury statements against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader.

Nisar has accused Ahsan 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 (an obvious reference to a property tycoon who is close to top political leaders).

During a meeting with Nisar today, the premier directed the Interior Minister not to utter any remark against the PPP, which, he said, is supporting the government in difficult times to save democracy.

The PM said we will have to take the PPP on board over the present political situation.

The two also discussed a strategy to cope with the prevailing situation, including the ongoing joint session of the Parliament.

The prime minister had also held a marathon three-hour meeting with his interior minister on Friday after the opposition took Nisar to task over his incendiary role in the ongoing crisis.

PPP demands apology

The demand for an apology from Nisar does not only matter for Ahsan but for the whole of PPP.

“If there is no apology… Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should come forward and take prompt action against Nisar otherwise the PPP will review its position on the current crisis,” PPP Secretary-General Sardar Latif Khosa told Dawn on Friday.

“As Chaudhry Nisar has already showed his intentions to further take on the PPP leader, the ball is in the prime minister’s court to initiate strict action against his interior minister,” he said.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari has also taken strong exception to Nisar’s diatribe against Ahsan and demanded an apology from him.

Also read: Parliament unity in disarray over Chaudhry Nisar row

Mango man

Sep 06, 2014 10:46am

Sorry to say, but PPP has been exploiting this situation ruthlessly. We all know how much clean these PPP walas are. Not even a single MW added into system in their 5 years tenure, the growth rate never exceeded 4, all mega corruption cases emerged and being in opposition, they are acting as saints. Ch. Nisar, I agree with your comments but the timing is horrible. I thought you are senior politician.

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Ahmer

Sep 06, 2014 10:47am

The body language of the two men tells the story of who told what to the other.

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Hasnain Haque

Sep 06, 2014 10:51am

Just shows how fragile this unity is, everyone is out there for their own interests.

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Sunny

Sep 06, 2014 10:52am

Nisar is brave man you can not hold him back pm sahab.

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khan

Sep 06, 2014 11:04am

Truth hurts.

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Ahmed

Sep 06, 2014 11:14am

Considering the current political situation in Islamabad, how come the interior minister used highly objectionable language against one of the most respectable members of PPP. I don't understand that what was the need for adding fuel to fire when the whole nation is looking for an amicable solution to present crises, which has severely damaged the image of Pakistan world over. The PML-N has proved one more time that they are totally incapable of resolving the issues. If PPP stopped supporting PML-N, it is quite clear that the nation will go for polls as early as in the next three months....

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Pakistani

Sep 06, 2014 11:20am

PMLN has been ruling Punjab for 06 years and the floods are an annual event for this part of the country. What have PMLN done to limit the damage to the lives and properties of the people?

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irfan

Sep 06, 2014 11:35am

Lets hope things now start to go in the right directions...(for Pakistan obviously)

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zafarov

Sep 06, 2014 12:21pm

If Chaudhry Nisar had an iota of wisdom, he would simply low for a while. In Pakistan one crisis (or crossing of swords) is promptly superseded by the next and soon forgotten. The Pakistani public has witnessed more than one eloquent and erudite humiliation of cabinet ministers. They have been exposed as loud mouthed bullies on the one hand and intellectual pygmies and cowards, who panic under pressure on the other. Another retaliation by Chaudhry Nisar will inevitably lead to further public humiliation on the floor of the House. This is a battle he has comprehensively lost. He ought to be man enough to accept that and stop behaving like a spoilt brat.

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Azhar

Sep 06, 2014 12:30pm

@irfan It's shocking to read a comment expecting a positive outcome for the people of this country when the sole decision makers/looters are the very problem for the present circumstances. Pakistani nation needs to address the root cause and not the symptoms, and once they realize this, you will see the people heading in the "right direction".

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M.Saeed

Sep 06, 2014 12:32pm

@Pakistani, you must know that not a single water storage dam has been built in the country during the last 40 years, while India has built nearly 3200 major / medium dams and barrages as of 2012. Our grudge against dams is the fact that, the dams would eradicate their "Pullah Fish" culture!

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think_then_speak

Sep 06, 2014 12:37pm

Mr. Nisar is the game spoiler.

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zak

Sep 06, 2014 12:49pm

Nisar is not the type to apologise to crooks and criminals. PML-N has shown its colors by bowing to crooks instead of defending the clean of their own party. Land mafia , a scourge of civil society and an evil of this present state of democracy.

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Qamar

Sep 06, 2014 12:52pm

Everyone has got right to respond to allegations. Nisar has every right to respond to Aitzaz.

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Zaheer

Sep 06, 2014 12:52pm

There is nothing wrong between PPP and PML (N). Both are supporting each other in prevailing situation. Nisar and Atazaz's quarrel is pre-planned to switch Media attention.

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riz

Sep 06, 2014 12:55pm

NS should sack Nisar if he does not apologise. It is not about whether what Nisar said is true or incorrect. This was not the time to ruffle feathers of the very people who are standing by you and democracy in their respective hours of need.

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fazal

Sep 06, 2014 01:25pm

Nisar's comments were bad but K Shah and Ch Ahsan's reaction was worse. Both parties were throwing stones in the gutter to damage their own self.

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kamran

Sep 06, 2014 01:25pm

@Pakistani How come 6 years, in total Sharif brothers ruled the kingdom of Lahore more than 15 years.

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Rajab Ali

Sep 06, 2014 01:32pm

As row intensifies between Aitzaz and Ch. Nisar the split in PML-N getting serious. There is no credible politician capable to manage damage control. Meantime, Zardari has announced to stay in Lahore and may provide tacit support to IK demand to recover in Punjab. Where would be Sharifs is anybody's guess.

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ABRAR

Sep 06, 2014 01:34pm

RESPECTED PPP LEADER SHIP AND WORKERS PLZ DONT PUT YOUR HAND IN DIRT U HAVE DONE VERY WELL AND KEEP ALL YOUR EFFORTS IN FAVOUR OF COUNTRY AND PEOPLES OF PAKISTAN.

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shami

Sep 06, 2014 01:46pm

People are dying in floods and these guys are busy in fighting. Shame on them & their Govt.

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Adam

Sep 06, 2014 01:49pm

Pakistan People Party and Pakistan Muslim League have not taken 180 million Pakistani's out of poverty.

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imran ali

Sep 06, 2014 01:49pm

If Ch.Nisar open the Pandora box regarding property tycoon,it will go very far involving Zardari,,ex C.J .Iftikhar Ch. and Shreef brothers also

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riz

Sep 06, 2014 01:53pm

Nisar should resign

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aslam minhas

Sep 06, 2014 01:56pm

Nisar is a dumbo; to choose this moment to air his worst feelings don't bode well for the PMLN. Aitzaz came out smelling roses. PMLN should fire its mint of int.

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tinker bell

Sep 06, 2014 02:09pm

Its amusing to see the PM struggle so hard to maintain his reign. I wish this much discussion and effort would go towards improving the situation in Pakistan and for ordinary Pakistanis.

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Ali

Sep 06, 2014 02:29pm

@Qamar : yes everyone has a right to respond. But one should 'respond' to the allegations properly like Aitzaz Ahsan responded to Ch. Nisar's allegations, response should not be a bunch of baseless counter-allegations like Ch. Nisar made initially.

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Rishad

Sep 06, 2014 02:39pm

C A Ahsen gave a lecture on tolerance in the NA. And inspite of the apology from the other side reprimanded them furiously. How dare anybody point a finger towards somebody who stood first, and with such illustrious past. He gave the example of 40 bails of water, which was cruel. CN should avoid confrontation because his allegations (and their timing) were totally misplaced. Tolerance should be from both sides.

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Hannan Kayani

Sep 06, 2014 02:58pm

Nisar if you really think that you are doing the right thing, then don't listen to anybody and stand up for yourself. This moment will define you and will also give a positive message to the people and the youth of Pakistan that taking a stand for what is right. There is a group which represents the educated class of Pakistan that supports you (although they may not like PML-N ideology and way of governance at all), still they like you for being the person you have always been. Please for the youth, for yourself and for the love of this country and TRUE democracy kindly go ahead and speak you heart out. Believe you me, this will further strengthen you.

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Hannan

Sep 06, 2014 03:00pm

As of today Aitzaz is winning the battle as he spoke against Nisar brutally in front of full house and the whole nation listened him. Now Nisar has to settle the score. But don't they have better things to do? Why do they have to waste time of parliament to settle their personal issues?

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Sohrab

Sep 06, 2014 04:05pm

This shows the bottom line problem. None of them are democratic leaders. They are all there for their own interests and self projection. The debates and discussions on the floor or outside on the streets are not about people. They are about these men and women who have outlived their roles as servants to the people. The problem is not only with NS, AZ, AH, IK, TAQ, MF etc etc but is also with the subjects. Democracy needs a lot of work here as the subjects need to evolve into people. Once we have "we the people" democracy will take roots. Of the nine words int the definition of democracy, three of them are "people" and not subjects.

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Buta

Sep 06, 2014 04:09pm

I wish if every honourable member of the National Assembly and Senate honestly tell the nation,what they have achieved in the last 14 months being in the centre of power in the country.

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mjk

Sep 06, 2014 04:11pm

Mr. Nisar Ali - Don't humiliate yourself, stand by your words. If you apologize ,then better give up the leadership of the house.

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Hannan Kayani

Sep 06, 2014 04:19pm

@Hannan its actually good because this way the real faces are getting exposed. They will fall into the ditch the dug for others. Seriously hats off to IK.. even TUQ, they both exposed the corruption and secrets for which the entire parliament was tight lipped.

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I. Ahmed

Sep 06, 2014 04:30pm

If there is ever an ultimate in Hara Kiri, this is going to be it!!!!! We should start writing the political obituary of Ch. Nisar and obituary of PML-N government.

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Atta Mohammed

Sep 06, 2014 05:09pm

So sad that every one is supporting either Ch.Nisar or ch.Aitzaz Hasan,. What about supporting pakistani people who they are looting.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Sep 06, 2014 05:12pm

Minister Nisar fires Prime Minister Nawaz apologizes. Another feather into the cap (caps) of ?????????? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com

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zaheer

Sep 06, 2014 05:14pm

In his long career aitezaz defended almost every corrupt person of pakistan. His education and intlect only work for zardari . Can not prove a single thing he has done for ordinary people of pakistan

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zaheer

Sep 06, 2014 05:16pm

How a person like him can blindly chose bilawal bhutto his leader. Can he prove him a leader on merit or because he is son of benezir b

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ali ahmed

Sep 06, 2014 05:19pm

If a prime minister can not defend his own interior minister,how can he defend the interest of Pakistan in a foreign country?

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Buta

Sep 06, 2014 05:31pm

People should not blame our respectable Prime Minister for the unsolved problems of the 180 million in the country. He was too busy travelling to other countries to find out why their people not protesting.

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Shehryar

Sep 06, 2014 05:50pm

@ABRAR and what good have they done ?

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Jawad

Sep 06, 2014 06:09pm

Big egos. Aitezaz and Nisar. I thought PPP was supporting democracy unconditionally. Why suddenly threaten NS with their withdrawal of support. Is Aiteazaz's Ego superior to constitution? It clearly sends a message ( which we already knew) that PPP is not supporting NS or democracy. They are in ka hoots with PMLN to save this current corrupt process. Nobody cares about constitution. They are all a bunch of ____. They've all gathered there against the PEOPLE who are questioning their doings

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Jawad

Sep 06, 2014 06:15pm

@I. Ahmed May be , may be not. May be its a dikhaawa. And NS and Nisar in it together. May be Nisar doing it on purpose, as he does have his own ambitions. ( we all know that) may be he is seeing himself as a replacement PM? Who IK would agree to ( if it comes to that , with or without NSs knowledge ) Even a kid would tell you ( PMLN )not to offend PPP at this time. So I think what Nisar did could very well be intentional.

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Vikas Rehman

Sep 06, 2014 06:35pm

The press conference is happening and Ch Nisar claims to have decided to overlook PPP leaders's attacks for the sake of Pakistan and his party. So this is Pakistan's interior minister who claims to have evidence against the wrongdoings of a person, and yet decides not to present that evidence because it would jeapordise his party's position. Does he deserve to be in his position? In a democratic country, he'd be chargeable for abetting a criminal, assuming Ch Aitzaz has committed some crime.

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W.Shaikh

Sep 06, 2014 06:47pm

@Zaheer Sounds right. It was given the status of a serious political crisis to flare up the political environment. It was designed to show the public that PPP and PML-N have differences but in actuality there are none. There is some concern that all big guns got together to save each other in the name of democracy and this tirade has been created to neutralize the environment.

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Vikas Rehman

Sep 06, 2014 06:53pm

@tinker bell If and only. If 10% of the money going into metro system would be spent on improving the sewage system, you wouldn't see the carnage in Punjab that you are witnessing today. But the problem is that you wouldn't make as much commission out of that. A prime minister who apologises on behalf of his minister, who threatens to spill the beans, to safeguard his own chair, and yet does not offer an outright apology for the failures of his police force vis-a-via model town incident, cannot claim to represent 18 million people of his country. He represents only 360,000 or the upper 2%.

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