LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif finally succeeded in bringing an annoyed Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to the provincial metropolis from Islamabad in his plane on Friday evening for a meeting with the prime minister.

The interior minister has been missing from the political scene for about a month, reportedly after developing differences with the PML-N high command over issues pertaining to the working of his ministry.

A close aide of the interior minister told Dawn that Chaudhry Nisar was unhappy over Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s interference in his ministry’s affairs and quoted him as saying that “Dar considers himself, and acts, like prime minister”.

Interior minister skips a meeting chaired by the prime minister

Shahbaz Sharif, considered a friend of Chaudhry Nisar, had met him twice in Islamabad but could not persuade him to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for removing the ‘misunderstandings’. In the third attempt, he managed to bring the interior minister to Lahore for a meeting with Nawaz Sharif on Saturday

Know more: Shahbaz efforts to pacify Nisar

The prime minister arrived in the provincial capital on Friday and is likely to stay here till Sunday.

But Chaudhry Nisar’s aide did not see any chance of reconciliation between the interior minister and the PML-N leadership. Instead he hinted at Chaudhry Nisar’s quitting the cabinet slot and leaving the country, at least for the time being, on the excuse of health issues.

Earlier in the day, the interior minister again missed an important meeting in Islamabad. It was chaired by none other than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, strengthening reports about Chaudhry Nisar’s differences with the top PML-N leadership.

An official statement issued after the meeting confirmed the absence of Chaudhry Nisar from the huddle, which was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for States and Frontier Regions retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed.

A senior member of the PML-N told Dawn that Chaudhry Nisar had some genuine issues about the running of his ministry and which only the prime minister could resolve. “Neither Sharif brothers nor Chaudhry Nisar can afford to ditch each other at this point and time. Eventually, they have to listen to each other.”

Had it been any other member of the cabinet, that individual would have been shown the door, the PML-N leader quipped.

The interior minister has missed the important budget session of the National Assembly and regularly abstained from parliament.

Media also reported his heart ailment, which he neither confirmed nor denied. His reported rift with the prime minister and some senior members of the cabinet has been the talk of the town for some time. Neither side did anything to clear the air.

The capital is rife with speculation over Chaudhry Nisar’s grievances. The government’s lack of interest in his new internal security policy and some unelected advisers getting close to the prime minister are being cited as the cause of his anguish.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2014