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

Impending slaughter
Updated 07 May, 2024

Impending slaughter

Seven months into the slaughter, there are no signs of hope.
Wheat investigation
07 May, 2024

Wheat investigation

THE Shehbaz Sharif government is in a sort of Catch-22 situation regarding the alleged wheat import scandal. It is...
Naila’s feat
07 May, 2024

Naila’s feat

IN an inspirational message from the base camp of Nepal’s Mount Makalu, Pakistani mountaineer Naila Kiani stressed...
Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.