KALLAR SYEDAN - Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar on Saturday said there is no division or crisis in the ruling party — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

"There is a difference of opinion within the party and nothing more," he remarked while addressing an event in Kallar Syedan. "And differences of opinion are the essence of democracy."

This was the second time, during the day, that the senior PML-N leader hinted at the party's unity while admitting to the internal conflicts that have plagued the party of late.

During an earlier address in Murree, Nisar had said that he along with the former prime minister and PML-N president Nawaz Sharif had laid the founding stone of the party.

Responding to a question about the Pak-US ties, the former interior minister said that the country's parliament has given a strong message the US. "In a show of unity, the parliament gave a strong message to the US — talk to us with respect — and the message resonated well with the recipient," Nisar said, adding the recent operation to recover a US-Canadian family was not the reason of the improved and more stable relations between the two countries.

He stressed that it is the government’s job to also stay united on its resolve in the future too.

The former interior minister also expressed his opinion on the government's close ties with its Indian counterpart. "I don't like the fact that Pakistan is cozying up to the Modi government," Nisar opined. "It will be foolish to expect anything good from Modi, whose agenda is based on anti-Muslim sentiments."

He said that Modi openly expressed his unity with the Myanmar government — responsible for Rohingya Muslims' genocide. "Can anything good be expected from such a man," Nisar said, adding Pakistan should not fight with any country but it is important for the nation to stand united in the face of internal and external threats.

Talking to media persons, he said that does not like exchange of warm greetings between former heads of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

He further said that verdict of the top court could be disagreed with but cannot be ridiculed.

The senior PML-N leader was of the view that coming six to seven months would be a difficult phase for his party but he shunned the impression of any intra-party division or crisis. However, he claimed that the party would go into general elections 2018 with unity.

Addressing a public rally in Rawalpindi, Nisar said that criticism on judiciary is neither in Nawaz Sharif’s favour nor party’s. He reiterated that he did not take up offers to lead a ministry after Nawaz’s disqualification owing to difference of opinion with the leadership. The former minister further denied there was any forward bloc in the making within the party.