Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Saturday sought the resignation from Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan over what they termed his failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP).

PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar, in a press conference following a party meeting said: "Law and order situation in Pakistan is the result of non-implementation of NAP and interior ministry has miserably failed to stop the activities of banned outfit."

"Chaudhry Nisar should resign over his failure to implement NAP. If he does not resign by himself, then the prime minister should ask for his resignation," he added.

While referring to a meeting between the interior minister and heads of banned outfits, Babar said: "Nisar met with leaders of banned outfit which is against NAP. He [Nisar Ali Khan] has lost the moral grounds to remain as the country's interior minister."

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, while talking to media, condemned the crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers in Islamabad.

"We [PPP] condemn police storming the youth convention of PTI and baton charge of youth."

While commenting on the sacking of Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, Ahsan said, "Asking for resignation from information minister exhibits that Nawaz Sharif has lost his grip and now it will be difficult for government to get the momentum back."

Parvaiz Rasheed was asked to step down from his position as Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Saturday over lapse in performing his duties.

A statement issued by the prime minister's office said: "Evidence available so far points to a lapse on part of the information minister, who has been directed to step down from the office to enable holding of an independent and detailed inquiry.”

The development comes after the publication of Dawn's story "Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military", which reported details of a high level civil-military meeting discussing the issue of Pakistan's banned outfits.

The report of the high-profile security meeting has forced the government to initiate an inquiry to identify the person responsible for its leak.

Sources also said Rasheed's portfolio was taken away after a preliminary inquiry was launched by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. They added that the premier has ordered a formal inquiry as to whether Rasheed was involved in the leak from the meeting.