Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Saturday dismissed the rumours of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's return to the country as a result of any deal.

He also ruled out any link between Rangers' raid on the offices of former President's close aide Anwar Majeed and the arrival of the former President. Talking informally with reporters here, Nisar maintained that PPP is only against him for pursuing cases against their leaders, adding the ongoing investigations are being conducted on the directives of the Supreme Court.

Talking informally with reporters here, Nisar maintained that PPP is only against him for pursuing cases against their leaders, adding the ongoing investigations are being conducted on the directives of the Supreme Court.

He said that Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah has the similar concerns as cases against him in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are ongoing, which were not framed by the current government but by Musharraf's government.

"PPP wants discontinuation of the ongoing cases and inquiries against its leaders," he maintained, adding he never levelled any allegation of corruption against them. According to the minister, the process of accountability in the country can only be made transparent when the authority of appointment of the NAB chairman is handed over to the Supreme Court instead of prime minister and opposition leader.

"How could accountability be made transparent when the appointment of chairman NAB is done by the government and the opposition?" He posed a question. He added that there is a need to bring changes in NAB laws. Nisar rejected the rumours behind Zardari's return to the country as a result of any deal, saying there is no ongoing case against the PPP co-chairman.

He said the raid conducted by Rangers in Karachi that considered with Zardari's homecoming was part of the ongoing crackdown against criminals. He claimed that the raid resulted in the discovery of weapons from the offices and Rangers have already issued a statement in this regard, adding investigation was under way regarding recovery of arms.

About his Friday's meeting with Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif, he also rejected the impression that it was in connection with the Rangers' raids, adding that he usually meets the PM on different issues.

Regarding former President General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), Nisar said that neither was there any pressure nor did anybody make any request, adding Musharraf was given a guard of honour by those who are criticising the government. According to him, Musharraf travelled abroad in the light of court's decision.

He further said that model Ayyan Ali's name was added to the ECL on the recommendations of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The interior minister further said that a policy regarding issuing weapons' licences has been framed and it will be formally announced in the coming few days. About the Quetta Commission's report, he insisted that report of the inquiry body is 'one-sided' and only allegations have been levelled against him, adding he will present his response in the apex court.

He further said that the interior ministry has asked the State Bank of Pakistan to freeze accounts of 4,000 suspected individuals, including those who belong to proscribed organisations. He stated that 30,000 CNICs of foreigners have been cancelled while around 0.2 million CNICs have been blocked.