Change of loyalties under one or the other pretext by legislators is not an unusual thing in our land of the pure, but hardly anyone would have spotted lawmakers resorting to this practice for at least four times in a short span of five years.
Though many of the 48 AJK Legislative Assembly members are alleged to have set unprecedented records of treacheries and perfidies without any recession, three of them however carry the “unique distinction” of being cabinet members in all four governments that replaced each other in five years.
And of these three, Col (retired) Raja Mohammad Nasim, minister for communication and works (C&W), has not even seen the change of his coveted portfolio, notwithstanding change of governments.
But unlike the other two – minister for Mangla dam affairs and fisheries Chaudhry Mohammad Yousuf and minister for revenue, stamps and evacuee property Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni - Mr Nasim has lately started criticizing Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan to make ground for his next political flight.
Mr Nasim, it may be recalled, was launched in AJK’s electoral politics as a Muslim Conference (MC) candidate in July 2006 general election from Bagh district by the powers that had allegedly manipulated those polls. He was allotted the coveted portfolio of C&W and reconstruction by Prime Minister Sardar Attique.
However, when the situation became unfavourable for Sardar Attique after the fall of his benevolent military dictator in Pakistan, Mr Nasim was among the forerunners of a “forward block” that aimed premier’s replacement.
In a November 17, 2008 chat with this correspondent, he had dubbed the prime minister (Sardar Attique) as “the most controversial personality” who “had failed to deliver on every count.”
In fact, Mr Nasim was among four anti-Sardar Attique lawmakers tipped as his likely successors but as lady luck smiled on Sardar Yaqoob he had to resign himself to a berth in cabinet with the same portfolio.
Mr Yaqoob’s government was sent packing after nine months through a no trust motion by the reunified MC factions which brought Raja Farooq Haider in his place.
Mr Nasim was once again appointed as minister with his previous portfolio.
However, after another nine months, Mr Haider was also shown the door by Sardar Attique with the help of 21 MC MLAs and entire opposition.
Mr Nasim was among those 21 MC MLAs and was once again given the same portfolio in the new (sitting) cabinet.
After his induction, he made some harshest comments in media against Mr Haider, terming him even an “unbalanced person.” No wonder, by then he had forgotten his previous allegations against the sitting premier and was instead all praise for him.
In the last month’s AJK Council election, Mr Nasim however voted for the lone candidate of PML-N, a party led none other than by Mr Haider, in an indication of his next political flight.
When asked on Monday if his alleged voltfaces were not unethical, Mr Nasim maintained that his moves were driven by the “interests of his voters as well as principles.”
“I have not done it for personal gains. Whenever I felt that things were going from bad to worst I could not help but revolt,” he said.
Hurling serious accusations at the prime minister, he termed him a disorientated person who had held the MC hostage to his family.
When asked then why he was still part of the government, he said he had tendered his resignation but it was not accepted.
“Some cabinet colleagues asked me to withdraw my resignation and since I am a civilized person, I couldn’t resist their request.”
Tariq Naqash
Though many of the 48 AJK Legislative Assembly members are alleged to have set unprecedented records of treacheries and perfidies without any recession, three of them however carry the “unique distinction” of being cabinet members in all four governments that replaced each other in five years.
And of these three, Col (retired) Raja Mohammad Nasim, minister for communication and works (C&W), has not even seen the change of his coveted portfolio, notwithstanding change of governments.
But unlike the other two – minister for Mangla dam affairs and fisheries Chaudhry Mohammad Yousuf and minister for revenue, stamps and evacuee property Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni - Mr Nasim has lately started criticizing Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan to make ground for his next political flight.
Mr Nasim, it may be recalled, was launched in AJK’s electoral politics as a Muslim Conference (MC) candidate in July 2006 general election from Bagh district by the powers that had allegedly manipulated those polls. He was allotted the coveted portfolio of C&W and reconstruction by Prime Minister Sardar Attique.
However, when the situation became unfavourable for Sardar Attique after the fall of his benevolent military dictator in Pakistan, Mr Nasim was among the forerunners of a “forward block” that aimed premier’s replacement.
In a November 17, 2008 chat with this correspondent, he had dubbed the prime minister (Sardar Attique) as “the most controversial personality” who “had failed to deliver on every count.”
In fact, Mr Nasim was among four anti-Sardar Attique lawmakers tipped as his likely successors but as lady luck smiled on Sardar Yaqoob he had to resign himself to a berth in cabinet with the same portfolio.
Mr Yaqoob’s government was sent packing after nine months through a no trust motion by the reunified MC factions which brought Raja Farooq Haider in his place.
Mr Nasim was once again appointed as minister with his previous portfolio.
However, after another nine months, Mr Haider was also shown the door by Sardar Attique with the help of 21 MC MLAs and entire opposition.
Mr Nasim was among those 21 MC MLAs and was once again given the same portfolio in the new (sitting) cabinet.
After his induction, he made some harshest comments in media against Mr Haider, terming him even an “unbalanced person.” No wonder, by then he had forgotten his previous allegations against the sitting premier and was instead all praise for him.
In the last month’s AJK Council election, Mr Nasim however voted for the lone candidate of PML-N, a party led none other than by Mr Haider, in an indication of his next political flight.
When asked on Monday if his alleged voltfaces were not unethical, Mr Nasim maintained that his moves were driven by the “interests of his voters as well as principles.”
“I have not done it for personal gains. Whenever I felt that things were going from bad to worst I could not help but revolt,” he said.
Hurling serious accusations at the prime minister, he termed him a disorientated person who had held the MC hostage to his family.
When asked then why he was still part of the government, he said he had tendered his resignation but it was not accepted.
“Some cabinet colleagues asked me to withdraw my resignation and since I am a civilized person, I couldn’t resist their request.”
Tariq Naqash
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