ISLAMABAD: Ironman of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, holds former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief responsible for his defeat in Taxila’s NA-53.

In a private conversation, the PML-N’s former parliamentary leader was heard accusing the former ISI chief, Lt-Gen (retd) Ahmed Shuja Pasha, for engineering his defeat.

When approached, Nisar refused to comment on the involvement of the former ISI director general in political affairs. He, however, asserted that massive rigging took place and he had submitted complaints in that regard to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The PML-N leader has a history of hostility with the former intelligence head. He was also vocal against Pasha during the last Pakistan Peoples Party-led government and often accused him of pampering the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI).

In May 2011, Pasha was invited to brief the joint sitting of Parliament, wherein he was subjected to strong criticism by Nisar. Instead of accepting the grilling, Pasha turned the tables claiming the PML-N leader was speaking against him because he had not fulfilled one of his (Nisar’s) requests.

Political circles later asserted that in early 2011 the ambitious PML-N leader wanted to become the prime minister through an in-house change and had beseeched Pasha to force PML-Q legislators support him in that regard.

Nisar believed the owner of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz, was also investing heavily in his political rivals in NA-53 and NA-52. He, however, could not produce any evidence to the effect.

Nisar is most likely getting the important Interior Ministry and plans to bring about radical changes in the police and patwari culture in the country.

During party meetings, Nisar has vowed to go against land-grabbers which would be a Herculean task as several influential individuals and institutions are reportedly involved in usurping precious land, especially in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The writer is a freelance contributor. His Twitter handle is @shahz79