The long disappearance of Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from the political scene has given birth to several speculations including differences with Sharif brothers due to relations with Malik Riaz, a property tycoon.
Though the PML-N said that Nisar was in London for medical treatment but some insiders claimed that the leader of the opposition in National Assembly was unhappy over the PML-N's top leadership ties with Malik Riaz, who, Nisar has repeatedly alleged, is running campaign against him in his constituency-Rawalpindi.
The insiders said that hectic efforts were underway to pacify Chaudhry Nisar, who did not attend important party meeting and events as well as other political functions in recent days. It was learnt that the recent visit of chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif along with party's MNA Khawaja Mohammad Asif was also meant to have meeting with Chaudhry Nisar for removing his apprehensions.
On the other hand sources claimed that Nawaz Sharif had recently met Malik Riaz in Islamabad so as to resolve issues between him and Chaudhry Nisar. Though, PML-N secretary information Mushahidullah Khan was not available for comments despite repeated attempts on his cell phone, the sources said that the reason of long absence of Chaudhry Nisar from the political scene was differences with central leadership. The leader of the opposition has remained absent from the two important sessions of the National Assembly-32nd and the current 33rd. His absence was also seriously felt on the eve of recently held long-awaited party's internal elections in which Mian Nawaz Sharif was elected as president of the PML-N.
Nisar has openly spoken against Malik Riaz even on the floor of the House alleging him for making over 40,000 fake computerised national identity cards (CNICs) in Rawalpindi through national database registration authority (NADRA), a move to prepare ground for former deputy speaker Haji Nawaz Khokhar to win coming general election from NA-52, the constituency of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Furthermore, Chaudhry Nisar had strongly opposed bringing the Defence Housing Authority bill in the National Assembly aimed at giving sweeping powers to the DHA, terming the move to please owner of the Bahrai Town Malik Raiz, adding that the land for the housing project was forcibly occupied. Malik Riaz, who is on one side considered to be a close friend of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani while on the other hand also enjoys good ties with Sharifs. But his recent move to bring PML-Q in the PPP led ruling coalition has disappointed the PML-N leadership, the sources said.