News Analysis |
Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman has once again claimed that he would be taking a big wicket in days to come, without mentioning or even giving any hint of the next inclusion.The PTI chief was swiftly asked whether the disgruntled Former Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar was being included in the party, to which the cricketer smiled, but fell short of acceptance or rejection.
After the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran has been inviting former security czar, Chaudhry Nisar to join his party; however, his efforts have not borne fruit to this day.
Nisar is a close confidante of Shehbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister, Punjab and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz president, and holds regular meetings with him, to the extent that he does not find it even a news story.
Whenever Imran Khan claims of taking a big wicket, the political observers automatically poise Chaudhry Nisar to be his next party members, however, Nisar has been able to remain in the news despite not announcing any landmark decision, following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.
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A few days back, Nisar rejected that he was in touch with Imran Khan – who happens to be his college mate. On the other hand, when a local television channel broke the news of Nisar’s backdoor contacts with Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson rejected the rumors.
Chaudhry Nisar, who is still considered a maverick of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, had also mocked Maryam Nawaz, former first daughter, over her repeated mentions of awarding ticket to Chaudhry Nisar.
In his blatant remarks, Nisar signaled that he might not be contesting the upcoming elections through the platform of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz by wondering ‘who was demanding ticket from Maryam Nawaz?’
The statement and attitude of Chaudhry Nisar has been signaling political pundits across the country that he might finally leave his party to join Imran Khan’s camp, however, to this day, he has been successfully concealing his cards, but rekindling hopes in both Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, that he was not against anyone of these.
Nisar reputation of being an honest and blunt politician has helped him wade through controversies and would surely assist him in the next electoral tussle, following which he might think of switching loyalty to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Chaudhry Nisar, who is also considered close to the establishment, was amongst the very few lawmakers of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, who were not sent behind bars after the bloodless coup of Pervez Musharraf in 1999, and was only put under house arrest.
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The presence of his family members in the armed forces of Pakistan has visibly increased his political clout, leading to his appointment as the Federal Interior Minister after Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz assumed power in 2013, however, the narrative propagated by Nawaz Sharif, after his disqualification in the Panama Papers Case, was not bought by Nisar, who kept advising the leadership not to develop confrontation with judiciary and armed forces.
Even now, Nisar is a close confidante of Shehbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister, Punjab and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz president, and holds regular meetings with him, to the extent that he does not find it even a news story.
What adds weight to the perception that Nisar might not join PTI, even after differing with Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, is the fact that his ‘buddy’ Shehbaz Sharif has caught hold of the party’s reins.
So the only option left for Chaudhary Nisar, when he is being sidelined is not to leave Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz himself; contest the upcoming elections as an independent candidate – which he can easily win owing to his reputation – and then decide the future course of action.
The PTI chief was swiftly asked whether the disgruntled Former Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar was being included in the party, to which the cricketer smiled, but fell short of acceptance or rejection.
Though Imran Khan and his party leaders would keep on inviting Nisar to formally join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, even then the chances of him, joining the party before the next elections seem bleak, however, considering his diplomatic overtures, he would not rule out the possibility in this regard through his gestures or statements.
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The viable option for the political stalwart is to contest the elections as an independent candidate and then join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. In this case, he would be able to prove his allegiance with Pakistan Muslim and would also save his political future.
Nisar has been the only politician to win 8 elections consecutively and surprisingly, he overpowered two of the candidates for the provincial seats in the last elections. His reputation for being an honest and blunt politician has helped him wade through controversies and would surely assist him in the next electoral tussle, following which he might think of switching loyalty to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.