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.
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.