ISLAMABAD - The chequered relations between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, once considered most trusted and wise comrade in party ranks, are at the brink of breakup with minimal chances of rapprochement.
The relations, spanning over almost three decades, saw many ups and downs and once considered as all-weather friends, and rightly so, both PML-N stalwarts are not at even on talking terms now and their differences have become talk of the town with majority of the party leaders – who had been instrumental in diluting the tension between the two in the past – seem pessimistic about the patch up now.
Background interviews and interaction with the party leaders and parliamentarians close to both the prime minister and the interior minister brought to fore a list of charges both have against each other and the reasons behind the dissonance between them, which grew to the level where even Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif seems helpless to handle the situation, as both his elder brother and Chaudhry from Chakri Rajgaan are stubbornly holding their positions on points of variance.
Commenting on the rising tension between the two, a senior parliamentarian said that the conspicuous absence of Ch Nisar on almost all engagements of visiting Chinese president showed the gravity of the situation. The source said that even the minister did not shook hands or spoke to PM during the address of Chinese president to joint session of the parliament and quietly disappeared as soon as the session was over.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office informed The Nation that since his return from the US early March this year, Nisar had not attended any meeting called by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on security related matters despite the fact that being the interior minister his presence in these high profile meetings attended by civil and military top brass is of vital importance.
A senior party leader said that Premier Sharif was patiently tolerating the continuous defiance on part of his interior minister, who is also holding the status of senior minister, be it the meetings at PM House in connection with the internal security or other matters relating to the working and coordination of his ministry with other ministries and divisions. Nisar never bothered to take part in the meetings regarding the implementation of National Action Plan, which he is supposed to spearhead being the focal person, and ongoing operation against militants across the country, he added.
He further said that even on his return from the US visit and a stopover in London where he had some important security related meetings, Ch Nisar never bothered to brief the prime minister on his visits. However, he did held a detail meeting in this connection with Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, obviously to the further annoyance of the premier. Tycoon
Another source in the party said that within PML-N a very strong group had emerged against Ch Nisar Ali Khan and they have made Premier Sharif believe that Nisar is adding to government's problems, be it his role in the parliament or in the interior ministry.
Some ministers have come up with complaints to the PM that they were not getting support from interior ministry or its subordinate departments where required. Even interior secretary never bothered to respond to the calls from different other ministers, parliamentary sources added.
Sources close to the prime minister said that Nawaz wanted to give maximum time to his old buddy in the hope he would himself realise his mistakes and the PM would not take any extreme step against him like he had not taken any adverse action against other senior party leaders – Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa and Syed Ghous Ali Shah – who have been in defiance mode for quite some time. By simply ignoring them Premier Sharif has made them irrelevant and he would go to adopt the same tactics against Nisar and push him to the point where he would either fall in line or bow out.
A few days back Chief Minister Punjab Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif had a detailed meeting, spanning over several hours, with Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan in Islamabad but failed to convince him on mending fences with Premier Sharif by showing flexibility on certain key issues of discord.
Sources in the know of the picture about strained relations between the two informed The Nation that the main complaint Ch. Nisar Ali Khan with Premier Sharif was about his lenient view toward the mega corruption scandals of Pakistan People's Party stalwarts because he (Nisar) wanted to screw up all those involved in looting and plundering the national wealth.
In this backdrop he also wanted reformation in the National Accountability Bureau and appointment of some strong person as its head instead of the incumbent Chairman NAB who too has adopted a policy of go slow.
Sources further said that Ch Nisar also wanted action against some of the ruling party ministers on same grounds, the matter discussed and agreed upon between Prime Minister, Chief Minister Punjab and a couple of other party stalwarts in meetings held in Murree and Nathiagali a few months back. But to his utter disappointment Premier Sharif once again backtracked putting the matter of sprucing up of Federal Cabinet in limbo.
These sources said that Ch Nisar was dejected over the way Premier Sharif had backtracked from his commitments and promises made with him in the past, sounding the slogans of change hollow and meaningless.
To a question these sources said that the issue relating to a property tycoon, non-issuance of funds for NACTA, showering of benevolence on those within the party averse to Nisar and according them importance in vital decision-making are some of the factors contributing toward widening of chasm between them and pushing the things to a point of no return.
Only time will tell the fallout of this battle of nerves between the two, but the people close to Premier Sharif believed that he would not take any stern action against his old buddy and give him maximum time to mend his ways otherwise make him irrelevant and insignificant by completely ignoring him, the situation difficult to adjust in by a person of Ch Nisar’s stature.