Nisar urges Nawaz to avoid confrontation with courts

Published October 12, 2017
PML-N MNA Chaudhry Nisar addresses a press conference in Islamabad. —DawnNews
PML-N MNA Chaudhry Nisar addresses a press conference in Islamabad. —DawnNews

PML-N MNA and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar at a press conference in Taxila on Thursday cautioned ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif against locking horns with the judiciary as he and his family face Supreme Court sanctioned accountability references.

"My opinion is that we should fight our case in the courts with full force without any confrontation with courts. This is not right for Nawaz Sharif, the party, institutions or the country," he said.

"I would like to believe that the courts are deciding on the facts of the case presented before them," he added.

Responding to a question about Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif's invitation to the United States for joint action against terrorist groups in Pakistan, Nisar said: "No sovereign country can allow for a joint operation within its borders, nor make such a proposal."

Pakistan is a functioning democracy which has faith in the capabilities of its armed forces and intelligence agencies, he said.

He warned, "if we invite another power to conduct an operation in our country, it is like making a mockery of the country."

"If there is such a proposal," he said, "a similar operation should also be carried out in Afghanistan."

"If anyone is suspicious of some terrorist or militant groups existing in Pakistan, we have proof that terrorists operate in broad daylight in Afghanistan," he said.

Nisar's statement appears to a be response to an Express Tribune report that said Asif had invited the US for a joint operation against the Haqqani Network.

"We have offered American authorities to visit Pakistan with evidence of Haqqani network’s safe havens in the country. If they find any activity [of Haqqanis] in the targeted areas, our troops along with the US would destroy them once and for all," he was quoted by Express Tribune as saying.

Responding to a question about Asif's 'put our house in order' remarks, Nisar asked: "Who has stopped us from cleaning our own house? No one. This is not an issue which requires repeated statements."

"Be it the prime minister or his ministers, if they spend their time putting our house in order rather than making statements, it would be better for the country. But when it comes to repeated statements, the narrative of countries like US and India finds credence. I can only request them to not lend credence to this narrative," he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...