During Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's first and second ministries, he held the cabinet portfolio of Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister. During the Gillani ministry, he briefly served as the Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister with the additional portfolio of Communications Minister. In June 2013, during the third Sharif ministry, he was appointed as the Interior Minister, which he held until the dissolution of the federal cabinet in July 2017 following the dismissal of Sharif by the Supreme Court.