Chaudhry Nisar says PML-N and its leadership are in trouble

ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday said he still has a difference of opinion with ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but dismissed rumors that he has quit politics. 

“I promise that I have not leaked any news,” said Nisar while addressing a press conference intended to clear certain misgivings, the reason for not joining the federal cabinet of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and the progress of interior ministry since last four years.

He said that he still had a difference of opinion with Nawaz Sharif after the verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified him, which were put forward in a closed door meeting of the party central executive committee, and were leaked to the media.

“The news was leaked on ill-intentions and those responsible are dishonest,” he said. “I have no desire to be part of any political office.”

He is that he grateful to Nawaz Sharif and PM Abbasi for trying to convince him to join the federal cabinet, but he has a difference of opinion. He refused to giving further details and said he will speak about at the right time.

Nisar asked how many people in the history of Pakistan have resigned over principles. “The party and its leadership is its trouble. If I make further complaints, then it will hurt the party.”

“I don’t think the time is right for me to discuss the reasons behind my resignation,” he asserted.

He said that he is was blamed for allowing former president and military ruler Pervez Musharraf for going abroad but instead, it was the ruling of the courts. “I was the one who stopped Musharraf at the airport, but when the court allowed him then he went abroad.”

Nisar also said that he believes the inquiry report in the so-called Dawnleaks should be made public, while those responsible for the issue should be questioned rather than the interior ministry, and the report was made on the orders of the government.

He strongly lashed unwarranted criticism of the interior ministry during his tenure. “Everyone takes credit for every positive effort, but when something worse happens than they blame the interior ministry,” he said.

Nisar went on say that Pakistan has reduced but not completed eliminated terrorism, came up with National Action Plan after the Peshawar incident, and the Karachi operation. “The role of the armed forces was crucial,” he said and that more needs to be done to strengthen civil-military relations.

“The interior minister is not the chief executive of Pakistan,” but rather the policymaker and is not responsible for issuing permits for political gatherings while law and order and security now are the responsibility of provinces.

“I can safely say since the last four years, we have not left any terrorist network,” he claimed. “There is no terrorist network in Pakistan today. Now they are finding weak spots.”

Nisar provided his achievements since the last four years which includes streamlining the Exit Control List and removed and removed names placed since three decades, banned licenses of permitted bores and verified all licenses, verified SIMs and deactivated over hundred million unauthorized ones, blocked unauthorized identity cards and passports, and streamlined registration of non-governmental organizations.

He said that daily thirty thousand people moved across the Afghan border which has been reduced at Torkham and billions of rupees are being spent to bring a controlled border control mechanism.”We are spending billions to secure the shared borders with Iran and Afghanistan as there is infiltration from other countries.”

He said the interior ministry took a number of measures to streamline national security and improve the security of the country. He said that there was no issue with the opposition-led governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi, and they received support from the armed forces.

He further said that the Karachi operation was launched after the mutual consent and approval of all political parties. “Today Karachi is no longer hostage to the madness of one man,” he said referring to MQM founder.