ISLAMABAD, July 27 (APP): Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar
Ali Khan Thursday said he would remain steadfast with Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif whatever verdict the Supreme Court announced
in the Panama Papers case.
Addressing a press conference here, he said last evening he had
decided to leave politics, resign from the National Assembly and his ministerial post on the day the Supreme Court announced its verdict in
the Panama Papers case.
“I had decided I will leave politics and the National Assembly
membership after the SC decision, whether in favour or against
Nawaz Sharif, and not to contest the next election.”
He, however, changed the decision after holding meetings with
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and cabinet colleagues, including
Ishaq Dar, Saad Rafique and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and many other
friends, he added.
He categorically denied that he was aspiring for the prime
minister’s office.
Nisar said his biggest privilege was that he was a member of the
National Assembly and represented 500,000 people of his constituency.
“I am proud of my electorate and constituency,” he said, adding
that he was now fed up as politics had become ‘a joke and a
pack of lies’.
The Interior Minister said he loved the Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N), which was a national asset. He loved his
party leaders and workers, and did politics for honour, he
added.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a humble and
good-hearted person and he felt his pain.
Nisar said he would remain steadfast with the party
whether a decision came in favour or against the Prime Minister.
He requested the nation and the party to accept the Supreme Court
decision.
“Hatching conspiracies is not in my blood and nobody should
even think about it,” he said. He would go to the Prime Minister to congratulate him if the decision came in his favour, Nisar added.
He said he always told Nawaz Sharif the truth and the latter
appreciated that.
At the outset, he said, “This is the most difficult press
conference of my life. I want to clarify a lot of things because
of rumours. I want to talk about the situation vis-a-vis the
Panama Papers case.”
“All my life, I have spoken the truth to Nawaz Sharif. There
has never been duplicity in my intentions. My role is the same as
of the whisperers who would tell Caesar: `Caesar you’re human’.”
“It pains me to say this, but when the PML-N was faced
with the most difficult challenge, there was a conspiracy to keep
me away from the consultative process,” he added.
Chaudhry Nisar said he had called a press conference a
few days ago to share things which he had stated in the cabinet
meeting. Some things attributed to him were reported correctly
and others were not, he added.
Referring to his 33-year association with the PML-N, he
said he would not leave the party in the difficult time. Even
his opponents acknowledged that Nisar would never leave the
party despite his reservations.
“Those who were with Nawaz Sharif at the time the party
was formed are not with him today, except for me. Some have left
the Prime Minister while others have left this world,” he added.
“Muhammad Nawaz Sharif nourished the party through his own
blood, sweat and tears,” he said.
Nisar said contrary to media reports, he was not angry
with the party leadership.
He claimed he did not inform anyone regarding today’s
press conference.
