Cabinet reshuffle likely as Nisar takes Asif’s snub ‘to the heart’

• Interior minister wanted PM to sack defence minister for criticising his handling of Taliban talks but Sharif refused
• Qadir Baloch likely to be made interior minister, Nisar may get Petroleum Ministry

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was taken to Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) late on Friday night after he complained of chest pain.

A well-placed source told Pakistan Today that Nisar was under intense mental pressure following his differences with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over a recent statement by a fellow federal minister, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, who had criticised the interior minister’s handling of the dialogue process with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and had described the exercise “a waste of time”.

The source said that following Asif’s interview, Nisar had raised the issue with the premier but could not convince him to sack the minister. Nisar later tendered resignation from his office and did not attend the recent cabinet meeting however the prime minister persuaded Nisar to continue as a cabinet member.

The source said that Nisar had decided to relinquish the charge of Interior Ministry and a major cabinet reshuffle is on the cards. He added that SAFRON Minister Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch is set to take charge of Interior Ministry while Nisar would be given the charge of Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry.

Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is likely to be made minister for commerce while Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan might be handed over charge of Textiles Ministry.

Nisar has been the interior minister since June 2013. Prior to being made the interior minister, Nisar had been PML-N’s leader of the opposition from 2008 till 2013, when the PML-N won the general elections.

Meanwhile, doctors at AFIC said that Nisar’s angiography report was clear and he had been moved to his house from the hospital.