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Not leaving politics, but won't be part of cabinet over difference of opinion: Nisar

August 20, 2017

ISLAMABAD, Aug 20 (INP): Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Former dismissed rumours that he had left politics, clarifying that he had declined to be part of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's cabinet over a "difference of opinion." Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House on Sunday, he said though difference of opinions remains, he had always said he will remain in the party but will not occupy any office. He said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had tried to convince him to join the new cabinet till the last moment, for which he is thankful to them. Commenting on the DawnLeaks controversy, he said the decision to initiate the inquiry was taken by the government and it is the government’s responsibility to make the report public. Pakistan is one of the few countries where the trend of terrorism has significantly reduced, adding that today the country has no terrorist network. “A major change has come in the country…in 2013, everyday there used to be three to four attacks,” he said. Nisar said that despite facing pressure, he canclled Pakistani passports of 32,000 foreigners, cancelled more than 0.2 million prohibited bore licenses and cancelled CNICs of various individuals as part of fight against terrorism. Nisar complained that the interior ministry would be held responsible for anything that would happen in the country, including any security situation in the provinces, while everyone was ready to get credit in case of a positive event. The former minister said that he always tried to take along all the stakeholders, adding that he will not praise himself or take any extra credit. The interior ministry itself doesn’t have any executive authority, he said, adding that law enforcement is the sole responsibility of the provinces. “Whenever any incident took place the blame would be put on the interior ministry, I tolerated in silence,” said Nisar. INP/AK