Nisar postpones his presser after Lahore tragedy

ISLAMABAD: Condemning the Lahore blast, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday has yet again postponed the much-awaited press conference in wake of the terror attack in Lahore, claiming at least 25 lives and injuring many others.

Talking briefly to media, the interior minister said that he wanted to hold an important press conference but the tragic incident makes difficult for him to speak on political issues.

“I could not hold a presser yesterday (Sunday) due to severe back pain. I am still not feeling well after being bedridden for past two days, [however] I came across speculations in the media about certain issues but you [media persons] should keep all speculations at aside right now and focus on the matter at hand,” he added.

Expressing a deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident, he said that it deems inappropriate to focus on other issues in aftermath of the terror attack. “The attack makes my presser less important on the occasion, I am not cancelling it rather than postponing my press conference,” Nisar added.

This was the second press conference of the interior minister which was postponed today.

The presser 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.

Recently, the interior minister is said to have developed differences with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in wake of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report. Nisar reportedly favoured the premier’s resignation while other party leaders urged the premier to stay in the office.

He persistently remained absent in several party meetings following the submission of the JIT’s report in the Supreme Court.

Nisar has also been 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.