‘No army chief can be poodle of government,’ Nisar reveals everyday suggestion to Nawaz

ISLAMABAD - Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has revealed his suggestion which he usually made to deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif during his reign regarding the head of army.

During an interview with a private new channel, he said: “I always explained Nawaz Sharif that no any army chief would be poodle of the government,” adding, “army chief will be honest to its department first whether he is my real brother”.

An impression that a hand picked army chief would give some sort of benefit is also wrong, the former interior minister further said.

Civil-military relations are not as tense as str being presented on media, he said, adding that the relation between institutions can be improved through mutual consultation.

Currently, there are several risks to national security as there are high profile intelligence reports in this regard, he said, adding that former prime minister, former Army Chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif and incumbent Chief of Army Staff are aware of these threats but incumbent prime minister does not have much information.

Apparently criticising PML-N’s agitation against judiciary after Panamagate verdict, he said that confrontation with judiciary will not be beneficial.

Nisar said that he can coexist with Nawaz Sharif in the party despite the differences, adding that he always tried to give right input to Nawaz. He also rubbished the allegations of his involvement in trapping the former prime minister.

Highlighting the causes of differences, Nisar said that Nawaz Sharif never showed anger even when he slammed the policies of the party till 2013, but the experience of past few years was totally different that led to differences, he said.

The PML-N stalwart said that he cannot accept Maryam as a political leader as lot of struggle is required to be a leader.

“Being a senior-most leader of the party, I was offered many times to become prime minister but I have no desire for it as I do not have temperament required for the seat”.