-- Nisar says he's ignored allegations, underscores need for an investigation
-- Aitzaz too responds positively
Addressing a press conference, he proposed the formation of a judicial commission consisting of "one, two or three retired judges" to investigate the allegations levelled against him and his late brother by Aitzaz Ahsan during the joint session of the parliament. "If the commission finds even one percent truth in allegations, not only will I resign from the Ministry, I will also quit politics," he said.
He said Aitzaz's address in the parliament should be considered an FIR and the PPP leader should himself propose the names of the judges for the proposed commission to conduct an impartial inquiry. According to him, he is ready to accept the names of retired judges Wajihuddin of PTI and Tariq Mehmood as commission's members. He said he would wait for his (Aitzaz) response.
At the outset of press conference, Nisar said that this would be the shortest press conference of his career and told media persons that he would not take any questions.
The Interior Minister said that despite an aggravating political crisis, he became the focus of the September 5 defining and decisive joint session of the Parliament. "Whatever has been said about me in the Assembly was unprecedented, questions were raised about the credibility of my late brother," he said.
Chaudhry Nisar said that Aitzaz's allegations were out of context. He said he had responded to the allegations outside the parliament while talking to journalists. He said that instead of keeping the debate outside the parliament, it was brought into the house. According to him, a vitriolic attack on him hijacked the most important parliamentary session in the history of the country.
He said he wanted to respond to the allegations in the Parliament, but showed restraint on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's and party members' request and decided to address the allegation at a press conference. "I also offered my resignation as a Minister to the Prime Minister during the meeting in the morning and requested him to allow me not to attend the parliament for three months. I also requested the Prime Minister and party leadership to allow me to address a press conference in my individual capacity to respond to the allegations. I received messages from across Pakistan to show patience as Pakistani politics, democracy and parliament are passing through a critical time," he said.
Nisar said that as per the desire of Prime Minister, party leadership, allies and senior leaders and other well wisher he has decided to ignore Aitzaz's allegations for the sake of Pakistan's democracy and parliament. He added: "I have taken this decision to ignore yesterday's events by setting aside an attack on my self-respect and a challenge to my credibility and integrity.
Chudhry Nisar said he is the biggest detractor of Nawaz Sharif in front of him and his biggest defender in his absence. He said that he has remained loyal to only one party ever since he joined politics. "I act according to my conscience and do politics only to earn respect," he added.
He said he has decided to ignore Aitzaz's remarks but that does not satisfy him. He sought the constitution of a three-member judicial commission and asked Atizaz to name respected judges for the commission to investigate allegations that he levelled against Aitzaz and he (Aitzaz) levelled against him.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf Saturday morning held a meeting with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to persuade him press conference over the speech delivered by Aitzaz. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave him conditional permission that he would not speak against Aitzaz, sources said.