ISLAMABAD: An evasive Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday admitted to differences with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership and his former cabinet colleagues but — in a show of loyalty to his party — refused to elaborate, saying it would not be appropriate to do so given the crisis facing the party.

“If I speak about my issues, the party will be damaged. Currently, the party leadership is facing difficulties,” declared the PML-N stalwart at a crowded news conference at Punjab House, when asked to disclose the differences that had led to his decision to stay away from the new cabinet.

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

Expressing his gratitude to both Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for trying to convince him to join the cabinet until the last possible moment, he said he had decided to stay away from the cabinet due to a “difference of opinion”. However, he refuted reports of a rift within party ranks.

Chaudhry Nisar was of the opinion that this was “an honourable way for someone to disassociate themselves over a difference of opinion”.

“How many people have resigned on a point of principle in the country’s history?” he asked, disclosing that he had once thought of quitting the ministry after submitting a written resignation, but then reconsidered, as such an action may have damaged the party.

The former interior minister’s decision to hold a news conference came on the day newspapers reported a spat between him and former information minister Pervaiz Rashid.

In a TV interview on Friday, Mr Rashid had said that the interior ministry, headed by Chaudhry Nisar, had made certain decisions that had gone against the PML-N and its government.

Mr Rashid, who was sacked in the wake of the news leak controversy, complained that other institutions didn’t help the ruling party stop former dictator retired Gen Pervez Musharraf from leaving the country.

But wasting no time, Chaudhry Nisar responded through his spokesperson, saying that Mr Rashid should have explained what kind of help he expected from the interior ministry.

Given the mercurial former minister’s recent outbursts in party meetings, political and journalistic circles alike expected the politician from Chakri to lay out his differences with the leadership.

But on the day, Chaudhry Nisar evaded nearly every question that came his way, abruptly leaving the venue before all newsmen had a chance to pose questions.

The main purpose of his press conference, he said, was to highlight his achievements as interior minister, and at the end of the presser, a 58-page document was distributed among journalists, highlighting the steps taken by the interior ministry in the past four years.

“With due respect, this question is not worth answering,” he said when asked about reports that the party was facing a serious rift following the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.

“I speak in party meetings but never leak any information. Those who leak what I say behind closed doors are dishonest, in my opinion,” he said, calling on the media to verify all statements attributed to him before reporting them.

He also refused to respond to a question about Pervez Rashid’s remarks, saying he had already responded through his spokesperson.

When asked about the inquiry report into a news leak controversy, he said he personally believed the report should be made public.

He also claimed it was wrong to hold his ministry responsible for Gen Musharraf’s departure from the country.

He said that other institutions were responsible for Musharraf’s exit, adding that the interior ministry issued red warrants for the former dictator whenever the special court gave any directives in this regard.

When asked to identify those responsible for the prevailing political crisis, he simply stated: “We all are responsible.”

In an indirect jibe at Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he said that the prime minister was now talking about the ban on licenses for prohibited-bore weapons. He claimed he had imposed a complete ban on such licenses, which was still in effect.

Counting the Karachi operation and steps under the National Action Plan (NAP) among his biggest achievements, he said: “Today, Karachi is not hostage to the madness of one man”, an oblique reference to Altaf Hussain.

He also said that incidents of terrorism had also declined since 2013, when the PML-N came into power, adding: “There are no terrorist networks or training grounds in Pakistan today”.

Chaudhry Nisar also claimed there were no issues as far as civil-military relations were concerned. “I always received cooperation from Rawalpindi,” he said, referring to the military’s General Headquarters.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2017