LAHORE, May 17: Muhammad Mehdi, media coordinator of the PML-N, has demanded removal of Interior Minister Rehman Malik from the cabinet dubbing him ‘alien’ because of his controversial citizenship.

At a press conference on Thursday, he said the PPP government must show the interior minister the door as the posting of an ‘alien’ to a sensitive portfolio was extremely dangerous for the country.

He also criticised Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s remarks that those who wanted to leave the country had better leave it.

He said Gilani could challenge his conviction but democratic and moral norms demanded that he first resign.

He said there were indications that the government would restore the Nato supply route without meeting the conditions set by the parliament — an end to drone attacks and unconditional US apology on Salala attack.

He denied the impression being given by the PPP government that failing to reopen the route, the country would face isolation in the comity of nations.

He said the UN charter only called for the provision of route to a landlocked country for meeting human needs but it did not mean transportation of arms and ammunition that would be used against our own forces.

Referring to the foreign minister’s plea that the country could not afford to annoy 48 members of Nato on the supply issue, he said when Islamabad had decided to block the supplies, the Nato strength was the same (48).

He also advised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to improve its image and look like a political party and not an NGO.