I am back, says Saqib Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar has returned from abroad.

Talking to The News on Thursday, the former chief justice said that he was back from his foreign visit. He sounded happy and showed no signs of worry.

Amid recent speculation that Saqib Nisar had left Pakistan to avert his possible arrest for his contacts with former DG ISI Lt Gen (R) Faiz Hameed, the former chief justice had told this correspondent on August 19 during his foreign visit that he would be back on September 5. Many, however, speculated that he would not come back and might prolong his stay abroad. Saqib Nisar, while confirming his return, said that he does not want to discuss anything on media and social media controversies relating to him.

During his tour abroad, though he confirmed his contact with former DG ISI Lt Gen (R) Faiz, he categorically distanced himself from any wrongdoing, May 9 or the politics of PTI.

“I swear I have nothing to do with May 9 and PTI and its politics,” Nisar had told The News, adding what was being generally said and alleged against him was “totally nonsensical”. “I have nothing to do with any affairs of Gen Faiz,” he said, but clarified that he had social interaction with Gen Faiz. He also explained that he had attended the wedding ceremony of Gen Faiz’s daughter and had been exchanging routine pleasantries and wishes on different occasions.

The former CJP said that during his and his family’s last visit to Northern Areas, Gen Faiz was very kind to look after them. During his tenure as Chief Justice of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar said that Gen Faiz used to meet his registrar besides occasionally sending him “for eyes only” messages. He clarified that Faiz never asked him for anything unfair or illegal. “He always respected me and was kind to me,” he said.

“I have nothing to worry about,” he had said and disclosed that he was returning to Pakistan on 5th of September. The retired justice recalled that last year when Aitzaz Ahsan was facing difficulties in reaching his Zaman Park Lahore house (because of the then situation surrounding Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence), he (Aitzaz) used to visit him in his office. He said that besides Aitzaz, at times Khawaja Tariq Raheem also used to come to his office. But these interactions were purely social.

The News published a story in mid-August that disclosed that Lt Gen (R) Faiz Hameed, who is presently in military’s custody, and Saqib Nisar were in contact with each other. Referring to informed sources, The News report had said that a probe by the authorities confirmed they were in contact. However, it was not explained what the nature of their interactions was – if it was simply a social relationship or had some political or criminal aspect.

The report added, “Background interaction with quarters concerned, however, showed that Saqib Nisar is also on the radar of authorities. These authorities insisted that they had found some material against the former chief justice. As against the social media speculation that Saqib Nisar will also be taken into custody upon his return from abroad, no hint was given by these sources about the authorities’ intention to arrest the former CJP.”