News
Friday, August 19, 2011
Nisar, Nawaz differences still unresolvedBy Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Differences between the top leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and opposition leader in National Assembly (NA) Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan could not be resolved despite an attempt by the former to pacify the latter some days back.
Firebrand leader of PML-N, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, developed differences with Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif over their business deals with a property tycoon, Malik Riaz of Bahria Town, a person with whom Nisar has had hostile relations for quite some time now.
Well-placed sources in PML-N revealed to Daily Times that Mian Nawaz Sharif had approached Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan last week in his hometown and tried to pacify him.
As a result of the meeting, Nisar agreed to become active following his absence from the country for one and a half month in protest against the party leadership’s decision to join hands with Malik Riaz in business.
However, Mian brothers showed least interest in cutting off their business ties with Malik Riaz, who apart from other ventures has been a key financer in Ashiana Housing Scheme initiated by the Punjab government led by Mian Shahbaz Sharif that led to the resurfacing of differences in relations between top leaders of the party.
Sources disclosed that in view of annoyance of Chaudhry Nisar with top leaders of the party, Mian brothers are also trying to pressurize their old-time confidant by backing some other party leaders from Rawalpindi division.
Sources cited the meeting of Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, a well-known figure of Rawalpindi Division, with Mian Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind as part of their efforts to put pressure on Nisar.
Sources pointed out that the underlying message in the meeting for Nisar is that “either abide by the party’s discipline or face the music.” They said that because of this renewed contact of Chaudhry Tanveer Khan with the top leadership of the party, hoardings displaying pictures of Chaudhry Nisar with Mian Nawaz Sharif have also been replaced with the ones showing Chaudhry Tanveer Khan in some areas of Rawalpindi.
Sources said that the party leadership was compelled to come close to Malik Riaz because of financial constraints the provincial government was facing regarding launching Ashiana Housing Scheme, which the opponents believed is a political stunt of the party.
“The financial compulsions were so severe that the project would have been bankrupted, if Malik Riaz had not come to the rescue of the Punjab government to go with its project,” sources disclosed.
Sources said that although some party members might have some differences with the attitude of Nisar. “However, the way he is being cornered has not been received well in the party ranks, which believe the party would be struggling hard to find a leader of high stature like Chaudhry Nisar, who has proven himself to be the best and ideally suited opposition leader because of parliamentary abilities and skills,” they added.
PML-N Central Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan, when contacted, denied that there was any difference between Nisar and Mian brothers at all and called all such reports baseless.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk