Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar postpones press conference

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has postponed the press conference that was scheduled to be held on Sunday evening, ARY New reported. 

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said the federal minister was suffering from ill-health and severe back pain, and has been advised to rest. The meeting has been rescheduled on Monday July 24 at 5P.M. at the Punjab House.

The spokesman said the media should refrain from speculations over the reasons for the postponement. He said the presser have been delayed solely due to the ill-health of the minister.

The press conference was highly anticipated as Nisar was expected to break his silence over rift with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It was also widely speculated that Nisar may quit from the Interior Ministry or end his three decade long association with the prime minister.

Nisar is said to have developed differences after the Joint Investigation Team report was submitted in the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers Case. Nisar reportedly favoured the premier’s resignation as compared to other party members, and stayed away from several party meetings.

Nisar is said to oppose Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who is one of the leading candidate for the premiership in case of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. The interior minister was on Saturday called by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif but was unable to resolve the matter.

PM Sharif on Sunday called President Mamnoon Hussain and Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to Murree for consultation on the issue. It is also known that the replacement for the premier may be from a smaller province.

Safron Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch is also reported to be a possible replacement for the prime minister.