Shehbaz asks Nisar to re-join PML-N in a meeting after lapse of seven years

ISLAMABAD: In a surprise move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reached the residence of former PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, with an offer to join the party again, sources.

Once a close aide of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Nisar, who last served as a interior minister in his cabinet, parted ways with the PML-N before the 2018 elections, in which he participated as an independent.

However, the “political divorce” wasn’t smooth, as the senior politician became a vocal critic of not only Nisar, but also Maryam Nawaz – his political scion.

It may be recalled that Shehbaz and Nisar always enjoyed a cordial relation before 2018, as latter continuously had differences with other PML-N senior leaders, including Khawaja Asif.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MEETING?

As Shehbaz visited Nisar, he, according to the sources, said, “You has forgotten us”, to which his reply was, “I am not well nowadays”.

On the occasion, the prime minister prayed for his health and invited him to join the PML-N again, as the two recalled the close partnership in the past.

However, the sources say Nisar told him to wait for his recovery and the results of consultations with his associates, as he thanked Shehbaz for the visit.

EFFECTS

One has to see how the PML-N leaders and workers, both at national and local levels, react to this development, given the recent history of Nisar.

One can understand the nature of differences, as Nisar in February 2018 said he had made it clear that he would not serve in the ruling PML-N under the leadership of “juniors” — a reference to Maryam.

Previously, he had remarked that Maryam lacked the experience to lead PML-N.

“You tell me, can I work under children?” he said. “A person has some dignity”.

The reason behind this attitude towards Maryam soon after the ouster of Nawaz thanks of the Panama Papers case was the fact that Nisar considered himself indispensable to the party and “natural replacement” to the elder Sharif. Hence, he never hesitated issuing statements on even foreign policy issues.

However, he failed to reach the National Assembly again in 2018 despite contesting the polls from two constituencies. But he managed to secure a place in Punjab Assembly.