Nisar may leave ministry over differences with PM over Panamagate issue: sources

ISLAMABAD:  Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who has reportedly not attended anyone of party and cabinet meetings over the Panamagate crisis, may finally announce to leave his ministry in Sunday’s press conference, ARY News reported on Friday.

Sources within the ministry say that Nisar has decided to stay away from the accusations over the Sharif family in the ongoing Panama papers case and may announce to leave interior ministry.

According to ARY News Islamabad Bureau Chief Sabir Shakir, PML-N leaders have repeatedly approached Chaudhry Nisar to persuade him but Nisar has decided to keep him aloof from the present crisis facing party and may tender his resignation from the ministry in Sunday’s presser.

Sources say Nisar will not leave the party and will continue to serve it as a worker.

Nisar Ali Khan is set to address a press conference on Sunday in Punjab House, interior ministry spokesman announced earlier today.

Facing an inquiry over his family members’ name in Panama papers and dealing with accusation of possessing “assets beyond means”, the PM is facing a possible threat of disqualification from public office.

On July 10, the JIT probing offshore assets of the ruling family submitted its final report in court which said that “he is in possession of assets beyond known sources of income”. The panel also disclosed that the prime minister was the chairman of a board in another offshore company, FZE Capital UAE.

Just today, the court observed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will have to face consequences if the money trail of London properties, said to be owned by his son, was not proved.

After the development, a number of legal experts believe that it will not be easy for the prime minister to escape disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.