Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan is a Pakistani politician who served as Pakistan’s Interior Minister between 2013 and 2017. From August 2018 to January 2023, he was a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly. He was, however, unable to get a seat in the National Assembly. Khan, a former leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), served in Pakistan’s National Assembly from 1985 until May 2018. From 2008 to 2013, he served as the National Assembly’s Leader of the Opposition.
Khan was born in Chakri and attended Army Burn Hall College. Khan has held several federal cabinet roles since 1988. In 1988, he was briefly appointed Minister of Science and Technology. During Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s first and second terms, he served as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources. During Gillani’s tenure, he temporarily served as Food, Agriculture, and Livestock Minister, as well as Communications Minister. During the third Sharif ministry, he was appointed as Interior Minister in June 2013, a position he retained until the federal cabinet was dissolved in July 2017 following Sharif’s dismissal by the Supreme Court.
On May 26, 2021, he took his oath as a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly.
Early Life and Education
Khan was born on July 31, 1954, in Chakri village, Rawalpindi District, to Brigadier (retired) Fateh Khan. He went to Aitchison College and then to Army Burn Hall College. He was born into a Rajput family of the Jodhra and Alpial tribes.
He is General Iftikhar Ali Khan’s younger brother.
Career
Khan began his political career in the 1980s after becoming chairman of the Rawalpindi district council. During the rule of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, he became close to Nawaz Sharif.
Political Life
1985-1993
From 1985 to 1993, he entered the National Assembly representing NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III). Re-elected twice on the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad ticket, he held ministerial positions in Science and Technology and later in Petroleum and Natural Resources during Sharif’s initial governance.
1993-2002
Between 1993 and 2002, he secured two more terms in the National Assembly but faced dismissal post-Musharraf’s coup. Despite this, he played a pivotal role in keeping PML-N active and reportedly had a hand in Musharraf’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff.
2002-2011
The period spanning 2002 to 2011 saw his re-election in 2008. However, his tenure as Federal Minister was short-lived due to PML-N’s withdrawal from the coalition government. He took on roles as Opposition Leader and later resigned from the Public Accounts Committee, citing accountability issues.
2013-2017
From 2013 to 2017, he clinched his eighth term in the National Assembly and served as the Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control. Despite lacking an official position within PML-N, he wielded significant influence, aiming for the Punjab Chief Minister role and winning a provincial seat independently.
2017-Present
From 2017 to the present, he exited ministerial office amid disagreements with PML-N leaders and was not part of subsequent cabinets. Accusations arose regarding aiding Musharraf’s departure and offers to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf surfaced. Contesting the 2018 election independently, he won a provincial assembly seat but faced legal action for not taking the oath.
Ministries
Minister of Science and Technology (1988)
Under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, he was appointed for the first time as Minister of Science and Technology for a brief period of six months, from June 1988 to December 1988. He was succeeded by Malik Naeem Khan Awan, who was a Member of the National Assembly from NA-54 (Rawalpindi-III) on the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad ticket at the time. After the Pakistan Peoples Party won the election and Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nisar resigned from the ministry. He was unable to implement any reforms as Minister due to his short tenure of only 6 months, and he passed his ministry to Jehangir Bader.
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources (1990–1993)
After being re-elected to the National Assembly for the third time in 1990 on the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad ticket from constituency NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III), Khan was appointed Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources and Provincial Coordinator, a position he held from 1990 to 1993 during Sharif’s first government. Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the president at the time, and he was also close to him. Sharif escaped a significant constitutional crisis in April 1993, when President Khan attempted to dismiss him under Article 58-2b, but he successfully contested the decision in the Supreme Court. After Sharif resigned, all ministers resigned, and Nishar was ousted from his position for the second time.
Minister of Provincial Coordination (1997–1999)
He was sworn in as the Minister of Provincial Coordination on February 17, 1997, when Nawaz Sharif was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan for the second time, and he served until October 12, 1999, when General Musharaff declared martial law in the country.
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources (1997–1999)
He was sworn in as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources for the second time along with Minister of Provincial Coordination.
Ministries under Yousaf Raza (2008)
When he was the face of the PML (N) in the 2008 Pakistani general election, Nisar was appointed to three ministries under Yousaf Raza Gillani and remained for a short period of two months (from 31 May 2008 to 14 March 2008) as the party was in alliance with Pakistan Peoples Party, and at the time Nisar openly blamed Pervez Musharraf and the PML (Q) for weak Law and Order. He was given three ministries:
- Minister of Communications
- Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
• Minister of Food Security and Research
Minister of Narcotics Control and Interiors
Nisar was appointed as the 34th Minister of Narcotics Control and Minister of Interior under the Third Nawaz Sharif Ministry in 2013 when the Pakistan Muslim League (N) won the general election in Pakistan. Nisar, the former Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2013, was named Minister and sworn in on May 11, 2013. He was succeeded by Malik Habib and served for four years till 2017 when Nawaz Sharif resigned as Prime Minister owing to corruption charges and the government collapsed.