India should clarify what lesson it wants to teach Pakistan: Nisar

“Dialogue is the only option for Pakistan and India to resolve their issues, but India always closed the door for talks and also maligned Pakistan,” he said during a press conference in Islamabad while responding to the Indian Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh’s speech that he made, after abandoning SAARC conference recently hosted by Pakistan, in Indian Rajya Sabha (parliament).

He said the people of Pakistan were emotionally attached with the Kashmiris and rightly protested against the recent violence of the Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir.

“One thing I would like to respond that he said Pakistan is not ready to learn lesson. What was that lesson which we need to learn? Is it they want their oppressive occupation on Kashmir?” Nisar said while demanding clarification from India over its minister’s statement.

Rajnath Singh had also alleged that Nisar had invited all for lunch and then left in his car. He said he also left the event because he was not there for lunch.

While taking a jibe at Pakistan, the Indian minister said he had asked all SAARC member countries not to glorify terrorists or treat them as freedom fighters.

Referring to the Indian Home Minister’s early departure before conclusion of the recent SAARC Interior Ministers’ conference in Islamabad, Nisar said the lunch was not hosted by him but it was hosted by Pakistan being a host country of SAARC conference.

“In response to Rajnath’s speech in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meeting, I only defended my country. As a Pakistani I responded to the disgraceful remarks of the Indian minister about Pakistan,” he further clarified.

The minister said the world has recognized Pakistan’s successes in the war on terrorism. He said terrorists are on the run, and they are desperately hitting soft targets. He said 20, 000 intelligence-based operations have been carried out, which helped to prevent several terrorist attacks.

“Being a Pakistani, I am bound to answer any defamation of my country committed in any corner of the world,” he said.

He regretted that the terrorists were getting support from across the border.

“You close doors for dialogues and threaten us. You help Pakistan break in two parts. You carry massacre in Kashmir and put allegations on us.”

Nisar also berated a section of media and said those media persons who wanted me to not respond to Indian allegations, I would say that I will respect your views on any issue but this.

‘US blacklisted citizen to be deported in three days’

While talking about blacklisted US citizen, he said the American blacklisted national Matthew Barrett will be deported in the next three days in the light of the findings of the joint investigation team’s report.

The minister said the American national was blacklisted by Pakistan in 2011, and deported. But despite that he was issued visa by Pakistani consulate in Houston. He said action is being taken against the officials, who committed negligence in issuing visa to Matthew Barrett. However, the one who identified him will be given appreciation prize.

He said concerned authorities would be asked to give report that no such leakage could take place in future.

‘Action to be taken against 30,000 blocked CNICs holders from June 01’

Referring to the verification campaign of computerized national identity cards, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said over 31 million cards have been verified in one month. He said 30, 000 intruders have been identified so far, who have been blocked. They will be unblocked if they were verified; however in case of non-verification, serious action would be taken against them after August 31.

He appealed to the people and the media to make this national campaign a success.

Nisar speaks against opposition

The minister said the politics in Pakistan was gripped by hypocrisy. The opposition was not serious in measures against corruption, but it is exploiting the issue to secure political vested interests.

“Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan says that his rally is against corruption, but the truth is that nobody is serious against corruption. Such rallies are just a tool against the elected government. Before mounting Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on containers, he should be asked from where Surrey palace and Swiss bank money  was earned,” he said.

He also took a dig at PPP and said what was the relation between former president Asif Ali Zardari and model Ayyan Ali who is under arrest on accusation of money laundering.

“One responsible guy came to me and offered me reconciliation with PPP by releasing Ayyan Ali and get Dr Asim Hussain bailed,” he said.

He also rebuked those who criticised security agencies and said the security agencies were giving sacrifices for Pakistan and we should stand by them.

Nisar said undue criticism of the security agencies is no service to the country. He said it is his duty as Interior Minister to refute the wrong impression created about the security agencies.