It took Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif more than six months to resolve some (if not all) misunderstandings he had with his most powerful subordinate – interior minster Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
His stony face failed to stop people from questioning the absence of the interior minister in important meetings and on key occasions. The concerns were genuine, as fatal aftereffects of Operation Zarb-e-Azb started appearing in the main cities.
Chaudhry Nisar is not the man to be taken for granted. His attitude earned him more foes than friends within the PML-Nawaz and outside. One thing he despises like anything is interference in his work.
Insiders say the real credit for the patch-up between the prime minister and the interior minister goes to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The younger Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar happen to be old and close buddies. They even share personal secrets with each other and never let political differences undermine the friendship.
That was not the case between Chaudhry Nisar and the prime minister. Both respected each other but failed to develop a strong bond of intimate friendship. Those who claim to really know the prime minister say he never forgets and forgives. And, therefore, the recent thaw between him and the interior minister could be a short-term reconciliation.
The interior minister refused to comment on the recent development. A PML-N spokesman was cautious not to make any public statement owing to fluid nature of the issue. Besides, he was wary of having his words being misinterpreted and used against him by any of the two sides.
Chaudhry Nisar once told this scribe that he was offered the interior ministry on a platter. “In fact, the prime minister wanted me to choose any ministry I wanted. I could pick petroleum because of my past experience. I could pick foreign affairs. But I decided to head the interior ministry since it was the most challenging job at the moment,” he had said.
At several occasions the decisions of prime minister made Chaudhry Nisar irrelevant. First he was not allowed to deal with the followers of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri. Secondly, he was vetoed more than once on Karachi law and order. Enough is enough, Chaudhry Nisar thought, and severed his relations with the prime minister late last year. The prime minister could not take it lightly. He was Chaudhry Nisar.
Despite the odds, the interior minister held his grounds and smartly played the media to his advantage. His latest alacrity to identify every alleged wrongdoing of an IT company earned him countless prime-time minutes and front-page headlines.
Insiders say Chaudhry Nisar will be careful in future. For instance, he is unlikely to pursue corruption cases against several top officials of the former People’s Party government. He will try to stay away from the Karachi operation, which is now apparently a domain of the federal government and is actually under the strict watch and control of the General Headquarters.
PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri says differences are part of the democratic process and show the PML-N government is not a dictatorship.
But sources say the reasons for bringing Chaudhry Nisar back into the fold were more political than strategic. The prime minister was satisfied the way apex committees were overseeing the operation against criminals and terrorists in the four provinces and was not dying to have him back at the forefront. The core reason was the upcoming decision of the judicial commission that probes into allegations of systematic rigging in the 2013 general elections. If the commission concludes in favour of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf, the prime minister would be compelled to dissolve the National Assembly under a bilateral agreement.
The prime minister is bringing his house in order before the decision of the commission. His reunion with Chaudhry Nisar is part of the same greater plan. Although, the prime minister is pretty sure the commission will decide in his favour, he is not taking any chances.
The fear of exodus of key figures from the PML-N in case of an unfavourable decision by the the commission is not unfounded.
Shahzad Raza is an Islamabad-based journalist
Twitter: @shahzadrez
His stony face failed to stop people from questioning the absence of the interior minister in important meetings and on key occasions. The concerns were genuine, as fatal aftereffects of Operation Zarb-e-Azb started appearing in the main cities.
Chaudhry Nisar is not the man to be taken for granted. His attitude earned him more foes than friends within the PML-Nawaz and outside. One thing he despises like anything is interference in his work.
Insiders say the real credit for the patch-up between the prime minister and the interior minister goes to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The younger Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar happen to be old and close buddies. They even share personal secrets with each other and never let political differences undermine the friendship.
That was not the case between Chaudhry Nisar and the prime minister. Both respected each other but failed to develop a strong bond of intimate friendship. Those who claim to really know the prime minister say he never forgets and forgives. And, therefore, the recent thaw between him and the interior minister could be a short-term reconciliation.
The interior minister refused to comment on the recent development. A PML-N spokesman was cautious not to make any public statement owing to fluid nature of the issue. Besides, he was wary of having his words being misinterpreted and used against him by any of the two sides.
Chaudhry Nisar once told this scribe that he was offered the interior ministry on a platter. “In fact, the prime minister wanted me to choose any ministry I wanted. I could pick petroleum because of my past experience. I could pick foreign affairs. But I decided to head the interior ministry since it was the most challenging job at the moment,” he had said.
At several occasions the decisions of prime minister made Chaudhry Nisar irrelevant. First he was not allowed to deal with the followers of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri. Secondly, he was vetoed more than once on Karachi law and order. Enough is enough, Chaudhry Nisar thought, and severed his relations with the prime minister late last year. The prime minister could not take it lightly. He was Chaudhry Nisar.
Despite the odds, the interior minister held his grounds and smartly played the media to his advantage. His latest alacrity to identify every alleged wrongdoing of an IT company earned him countless prime-time minutes and front-page headlines.
Insiders say Chaudhry Nisar will be careful in future. For instance, he is unlikely to pursue corruption cases against several top officials of the former People’s Party government. He will try to stay away from the Karachi operation, which is now apparently a domain of the federal government and is actually under the strict watch and control of the General Headquarters.
PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri says differences are part of the democratic process and show the PML-N government is not a dictatorship.
But sources say the reasons for bringing Chaudhry Nisar back into the fold were more political than strategic. The prime minister was satisfied the way apex committees were overseeing the operation against criminals and terrorists in the four provinces and was not dying to have him back at the forefront. The core reason was the upcoming decision of the judicial commission that probes into allegations of systematic rigging in the 2013 general elections. If the commission concludes in favour of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf, the prime minister would be compelled to dissolve the National Assembly under a bilateral agreement.
The prime minister is bringing his house in order before the decision of the commission. His reunion with Chaudhry Nisar is part of the same greater plan. Although, the prime minister is pretty sure the commission will decide in his favour, he is not taking any chances.
The fear of exodus of key figures from the PML-N in case of an unfavourable decision by the the commission is not unfounded.
Shahzad Raza is an Islamabad-based journalist
Twitter: @shahzadrez