Critics don't comprehend interior ministry's legal authority: Nisar
Nisar is addressing a press conference in Punjab House today (August 20)
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said on Sunday that those who criticise the interior ministry do not understand the legal authority and jurisdiction it has been limited to by the Constitution of Pakistan.
Nisar addressed a press conference in Punjab House today (August 20) to lay bare the administrative and policy initiatives of the ministry that were taken under his command during his over four-year tenure since 2013.
The purpose for the press conference today was to put the achievements and the initiatives on media record weeks after he relinquished his post owing to difference of opinion with PML-N leadership.
He briefed the media over several incidents involving terror attacks and steps taken by the ministry to curb extremism and better law and order. However he said that to maintain law and order is a provincial responsibility.
Nisar said that there are quite a few claimants of targeted operation in Karachi to deter crime incidence but he called on the then premier and had the policing operation approved by him. The news was carried by several media outlets, he pointed out.
At least 32,000 passports were revoked and over 0.2 million licenses of weapons were cancelled. At least 30,000 people moved in and out of Torkham border with Afghanistan daily without required documentation, he said and that the practice was curbed.
Process to grant visas was further smoothened and increased security checks were introduced.
The former minister asserted that it has been his utmost he has tried
"Today Karachi is not hostage to the madness of one man," Nisar said. He added that issues were solved once all stakeholders came together for a solution which is going to be always needed.
Qaim Ali Shah, former Sindh chief minister offered exceptional cooperation with the ministry over Karachi operation. Police, be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa department, Punjab department or Sindh department, the security personnel deserve much extolment and are under-appreciated, he said.
Nisar said that civil-military relations are not bad.
He said that actions taken involving inclusion of names in Exit Control List (ECL) still pose pressure. He thanked Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi among other PML-N leaders for attempting to mend his relation with the party however, he said that there is nothing to mend as a difference of opinion is all there is.
Nawaz Sharif and PM Abbasi attempted to convince him to be part of the fresh cabinet that was sworn in August followign July 28 ouster of then PML-N president.
How many lawmakers are there in Pakistan who have tendered resignations instead of compromising on their stance, he rhetorically asked.
Those who leak news about closed-doors meetings of the political party commit dishonesty, Nisar said.
While answering a question about the ministry allegedly allowing former dictator Musharraf to flee the country, Nisar said that the courts permitted him to leave Pakistan and ministry complied with the orders of the courts.
There is no reason for the ministry to check anyone s movement after Pakistani courts have permitted him to fly abroad, he added.
Earlier this week, spokesperson to Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had offered a reaction to sacked information minister Pervaiz Rashid’s statement by demanding to public Dawn Leaks probe report if he was as innocent as he had claimed to be.
He said that Rashid should have explained the conspiracy he referred to in his statement instead of leaving people solving an apparent riddle that he posed.
