Senators hail Nisar’s reply to UAE minister’s remarks

E-Paper | June 07, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was praised in the Senate on Monday for his response to a UAE minister’s remarks against Pakistan for its stance over Yemen crisis when he came to house after a gap of 17 months, ending his unannounced boycott of the upper house of parliament.

The senators received the minister with desk-thumping as he entered the house when a debate was continuing on the status of the standard of education in the country on a motion that had been tabled by Nawabzada Saifullah Magsi.

“I welcome Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar after a long long absence,” said Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, who had been in the forefront of the opposition’s protest against the alleged misconduct of the interior minister. At that time Chaudhry Nisar had refused to withdraw a wrong reply given by his ministry to the house during the question hour.

Read: Nisar hits out at UAE minister for 'threatening' Pakistan

The minister had preferred not to attend the Senate sittings when the opposition members sought an apology. The opposition members boycotted many Senate sittings and for the first time in the country’s parliamentary history, even held a parallel Senate session outside the Parliament House building.

On Sunday, the interior minister in a hard-hitting statement had declared the remarks of UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash against the parliamentary resolution on Yemen situation as “threatening, unacceptable and an insult to the Pakistani nation”.

PML-Q Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed termed the interior minister’s statement “bold”, saying he had demonstrated that someone in the government had the “guts” to speak out.

Chaudhry Nisar was also lauded by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Senator Mohsin Aziz, who termed it “a very good statement”. The PTI senator said that the statement of the UAE minister was “humiliating and derogatory”.

Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and Ilyas Bilour of the Awami National Party (ANP) also welcomed the interior minister to the house.

Earlier, the Senate adopted a motion seeking appointment of a special committee under MQM’s Tahir Mashhadi on a temporary basis to examine questions involving breach of privilege till the constitution of the house committee on Rules and Procedure and Privilege.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2015

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Zak

Apr 14, 2015 08:42am

Yes , very excellent response by Nisarji, deserves pat on the back.

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Oneeb

Apr 14, 2015 09:42am

I wish he has more influence in PML N then the khwajas

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harish

Apr 14, 2015 09:51am

I am an indian. I think Pakistan needs leaders like him.

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Akram Malik

Apr 14, 2015 09:54am

The statement may be bold, it lacks in reality check. I too would not like Pakistan to join the fight in Yemen, but all our successive governments have relied on Saudi and other Gulf nations to assist financially. Now it is their turn and they have asked Pakistan to help. Suddenly our government has taken a moral stand. What a hypocritical government.

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last comment

Apr 14, 2015 09:56am

Shabash !

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Aqil Siddiqi

Apr 14, 2015 10:06am

Way to go Nisar. At least you have Guts , unlike our spineless PM.

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khanm

Apr 14, 2015 10:15am

I like that "some one in the government has the guts to speak out" folks..By relying on the statistical information rather than a gut feeling or guts , you allow the data to lead you to be in the right place at the right time. To remain as emotionally free from the hurly burley of the here and now is one of the only ways to succeed... running international affairs it should be based on intelligence not on guts.....

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Kashif

Apr 14, 2015 10:22am

Beggars Rejoicing, Naya Pakistan

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saqib UK

Apr 14, 2015 10:45am

Finally someone who isnt afraid to speak out against the arab fat cats

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Waqar Ahmed

Apr 14, 2015 11:07am

I am surprised to see the non sense behavior of all the members of lower and upper house. No one is mature, U-turn is common among them, it have been made as a tradition. We can`t bear these type of Opportunist anymore.

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Manjeet kocchar

Apr 14, 2015 11:26am

yes must protect honor irrespective of getting any goodies

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Pakistani

Apr 14, 2015 11:38am

rightly so.

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ahmed yar

Apr 14, 2015 12:28pm

Well said Nisar

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Anwar

Apr 14, 2015 01:40pm

A friend in need is a friend indeed ! Is there anyone serious in this world. Firstly Emirate minister should avoid passing an unpleasant remarks about a sovereign country's parliament decision. Secondly it was foreign ministry's job to respond to his comments. Under CN's own portfolio Karachi operation is unidirectional once again.

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Hassan

Apr 14, 2015 01:46pm

@Akram Malik what's the total amount of funds given to the government vs the damage funding sectarian violence and keeping the Gwadar closed cost us as a nation? Please do a cost-benefit before typing aimlessly.

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syed wasim haider

Apr 14, 2015 02:00pm

He does not own any property in UAE for sure. But being Interior Minister how is he giving statements on External Affairs? PML-N is running the government on free for all basis. This statement must have made sleeplessness nights for the leaders of PML and PPP. It is the right time to bring back the looted wealth from Dubai.

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Mohammed

Apr 14, 2015 02:15pm

When have the Arabs ever treated Pakistanis like human beings? We are looked upon as third class residents of the Gulf states yet our soldiers should be made available to die for them? Well done Chaudhry sahib. As a side note, No nation can live with dignity unless it stops begging aid! When you take aid, you have been paid and the master will want their pound of flesh and blood.

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fida sayani USA

Apr 14, 2015 02:31pm

Comparing the statement of PM and IM, this is the time for Muslim League to remove Nawaz shaif as Prime Minister and in his place elect Nisar Ali Khan as a new PM.

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A Pakistani

Apr 14, 2015 02:58pm

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has done well to state the sentiments of the majority of the Pakistani people in replying to the uncalled for outburst of the Foreign Minister of the U.A.E. We should not make an issue out of it as the region has yet to be initiated to democracy and diplomatic propriety. I do not wish to denigrate any country but it appears they have forgotten the role of Pakistan and Pakistanis in making them what they are today. Short memory should be not be a cover for short history. Perhaps Chaudhry Saheb had the "guts" to speak up as the lone voice because he does not have assets or a business empire that can be exposed to their whimsical temperament.

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Syed Mohammad Husain

Apr 14, 2015 04:01pm

The Parliament issued a declaration after a prolonged discussion. There was no need for any clarification by the prime minister in his address a day ago. Definitely Pakistan is in a tight corner with regard to one set of party in the conflict which includes about ten or twelve nations supporting the Saudi action materially including the US. We should be asking for an immediate ceasefire in the UN for the parties to sit down and talk. This may not happen but it shouldn't change our resolve to stay out.

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Mithidada

Apr 14, 2015 04:45pm

What about the 3 million Pakistani expat workers in the Gulf who support perhaps ten times that number back in Pakistan? What would happen if they started to be thrown out? Or is that something that doesn't bother anyone? And if it does,what is the answer to this question. Great comments by Nisar. I also wish I could stay away from my job for 17 months because I didn't like what was said about me at work.

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Syed Zafar Kazmi

Apr 14, 2015 05:09pm

@Akram Malik First of all, like so many others here and the senate of Pakistan, I would very much want to applaud Choudhry Nisar, the only one from the government benches and among all politicians, who has shown self-respect and in doing so has elevated his people's spirit and honor to a decent level where it ought to be. I am very glad to have one like him among us. Secondly, having dignity is not hypocritical at all ad more than that for all the financial help of these arrogant Arab countries, Pakistan has helped them out too on so many occasions with the sweat and blood of its people. Staying neutral and providing mediating service in this explosive conflict is the only sage course that Pakistan should have taken and has taken.

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Haider Rehman

Apr 14, 2015 05:17pm

@Aqil Siddiqi I think in time Sharifs will kick him out of their party as he's a bold guy.

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Haider Rehman

Apr 14, 2015 05:19pm

@fida sayani USA That would never happen. PMLN is called Pakistan Muslim League *NAWAZ* for a reason. The party does not have intra party elections.

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MAlvi

Apr 14, 2015 06:12pm

I agree with Nisar's statements. Traditionally, the Arabs do not have the right attitude towards Pakistan. Pakistan must quit the subservient behavior.

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irfaniftehar

Apr 14, 2015 06:19pm

Most of these senators have huge properties in UAE as well as businesses and real estate including hotels and villas.

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Imran

Apr 14, 2015 06:25pm

It was necessary to give a shut up call to UAE for her remarks against Pakistan's sovereignty. It is worth noting that there is no reaction from the GCC in response to our retaliatory statement. On the contrary, Saudis sent their Minister to Islamabad on an emergency visit to immediately cool down Pakistan's subsequent backlashes.

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Sunil

Apr 14, 2015 06:54pm

Nisar understands what interests lies and goes for Pakistan, so he rebuked UAE minister.

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Nafisa Chalchal

Apr 14, 2015 07:27pm

Long live the Democracy in Pakistan!

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Shyam Kokku

Apr 14, 2015 07:45pm

Excerpts from an editorial in one of the most respected Arab Dailies in GCC: Pakistani Blackmail Pakistan imagined that the issue will be limited to issuing statements and nothing else, but they failed in the examination. This is exactly the situation of Pakistan whose government opted to join the Arab-Islamic coalition without any official request from the coalition. Pakistan took a position to remain neutral. This action has exposed the mask of blackmail under the slogan of protecting Islamic sanctuaries and unity of fate between Islamabad and Riyadh... Reviewing the military history is necessary for Pakistan to abandon its illusion of being a superpower in the Islamic world. It was defeated in all wars, from the war against India that led to the birth of Bangladesh until the war against Taleban whose terrorist activities Pakistan could not curtail. GCC countries do not need Pakistan but the latter needs these countries in various ways.

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Ahmer

Apr 14, 2015 11:13pm

Gargash had asked for such a strong response. Full praise to Ch Sb.

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Ali

Apr 15, 2015 04:18pm

@Akram Malik nothing hypocritical, they decided not to meddle in the infighting between two muslim groups, and have instead offered all help should Saudi be attacked, muslims are not meant to fight amongst each other nor take sides in such situations, instead take a neutral path and help resolve the issue, in true islamic way, the reality you are talikng about is a man made lie, besides Arabs wanted to use our tropps to do their dirty work on the ground, while they safely bombarded the place from air.

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