Pakistan: Find a replacement for Ch Nisar

www.pakistantoday.com

The country is fighting what the ISPR has described as a war of survival. Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the biggest and most well-coordinated operation ever conducted against terrorists, is in full swing. The PML-N claims the prime minister is leading from the front. The PM says he has pledged to wipe out all foreign fighters and local terrorists without exception. Federal ministers for information and defence too are busy rousing the masses to support the army operation.

What is missing from the scene is the interior minister who is required to play the most vital role in complementing the military action. It is widely known that Ch Nisar considered talks with the Taliban the only way to bring terrorism to an end.

The gradual change in the government’s policy towards TTP which has now culminated into full support for military operation was presumably unacceptable to him. Weeks back he stopped attending the National Assembly sittings and was absent from both the Senate and NA when the PPO was presented for ratification. On June 10 he attended a high level meeting with PM, COAS, CGS and chief of ISI’s counterintelligence desk. Days later, fighter jets attacked North Waziristan killing 50 terrorists, including the mastermind of Karachi airport attack. The same night Ch Nisar was taken to hospital for chest pain.

Ch Nisar’s performance as interior minister was hopeless. His biggest failure was to carry out the much needed revamping of the security system. The militants are presently on the run and their activities have drastically decreased. A number of TTP groups currently enjoying Karzai’s hospitality are however looking for an opportunity to retaliate in major cities. Whether Ch Nisar has withdrawn due to ailment or on account of ideological differences, there is an urgent need for finding a replacement. The government needs to appoint a new interior minister who is energetic, in sync with the times and capable of finishing the work left undone by Ch Nisar.