ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Ahmed Shah has called for the removal of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for not condemning Wednesday’s terrorist attack on the Bacha Khan University (BKU) that left 21 people dead.

Talking to reporters at his chamber in the parliament building on Friday, Mr Shah pointed the finger at the National Action Plan meant to curb terrorism and held the interior minister responsible for the BKU attack. He urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to replace Chaudhry Nisar. “Fingers are being raised at Nawaz Sharif because of the interior minister’s attitude.”

He said everyone was condemning the BKU incident, but the interior minister had not even expressed his sorrow over it.

On the other hand, Talal Chaudhry, a leader of the ruling PML-N, came out in support of the interior minister, saying Chaudhry Nisar had not been well these days.

“If the bad health of Chaudhry Nisar is made a reason for his victimisation, why PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has escaped abroad on the pretext of illness,” he said, adding that the opposition leader should mind his own business and avoid levelling baseless allegations against Chaudhry Nisar.

“The interior minister is an honest man and has never been accused of any sort of financial corruption,” the PML-N leader added.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015