ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is holding his much awaited news conference at the Punjab House.

"This is the most difficult press conference of my life," Nisar told reporters. 

Nisar spoke of his 32 year association with the PML-N and stressed that he would not leave the party in this difficult time. However, the minister stated that he was upset after being left out of senior PML-N meetings during the last one and a half months. 

Prior to the news conference, Nisar met with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. 

This is the minister's third attempt to publicly address the 'differences' that have emerged between him and the PML-N after the first two press conferences were called off. 

On Wednesday, Shehbaz, along with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, reportedly held a meeting with Nisar which lasted several hours. The purpose of the meeting, held at the Punjab House, was to 'reconcile differences', according to sources.

Following the meeting, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry dismissed media reports stating that efforts were being made to placate Nisar or that he is upset with the party leadership.

"The truth is that the minister had adopted a differing position on some important matters in the PML-N's internal meetings, after which he was excluded from the consultative process," said the spokesperson.

He added that the interior minister is seeking an explanation for his exclusion and wants to know if the decision was made due to his opposing stance, or some other reason.

Shehbaz meets Nisar in appeasement effort

Sources privy to the matter said the Punjab CM was accompanied by Ishaq Dar

The spokesperson further said that unless a clarification is provided, "it will be difficult to resolve problems in a positive manner."

According to sources, during Wednesday?s meeting, Nisar sought time to review his decision, while Shehbaz asked the minister not to take any extreme measures.

Sources further added that Nisar was requested not to bring party affairs onto the media as the chief minister assured Nisar that all his reservations would be addressed.

The meeting came at a time when the political arena is rife with speculations of Nisar ending his 32-year long association with PML-N.

A much-awaited presser on Monday ? in the backdrop of speculations of Nisar's differences with PML-N leadership ? ended with the minister declining to address any political issues in the light of the Lahore attack that left over 25 dead.

A day earlier, the minister had cancelled his planned press conference owing to ?back ache?.