Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital “in every possible way” and file contempt of court proceedings against those who violated a recent Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision.
He was addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside other officials.
The interior minister’s remarks came in the wake of PTI’s call for a nationwide protest, including in Islamabad, on September 27 to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution.
Last week, the administrations of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad started preparations to counter the PTI’s announced countrywide protest, including a request for detention of activists, arranging containers, seeking additional personnel and procuring anti-riot gear.
At the outset of his press conference on Friday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said a detailed meeting had been held to discuss the upcoming protest call and the law and order situation. Officials from all provinces and federal law enforcement agencies had also attended the meeting.
“In light of the detailed IHC judgment, there is no possibility of ravaging the federal capital or any other province,” he said.
The minister said that if anyone took to the streets, the government would first pursue legal action by filing a contempt petition against them for violating the IHC order.
At the same time, he said, “We will stop the marchers in every possible way.” All law enforcement agencies had been informed of the decision “with all clarity”, Naqvi added.
He said weapons had been used and losses suffered in protests in the past.
“This time, we are communicating very clear rules of engagement to our law enforcement agencies. They will not remain silent if a bullet is fired at them,” he said.
He urged the protesting party’s leadership to hold demonstrations in their respective provinces and cities. “Plans for locking down the capital or charging into another province will never be allowed,” he said.
“It is our responsibility to stop this protest to ensure the protection of the lives and property of the capital’s residents,” the interior minister said.
The interior minister drew a distinction between a political protest aimed at pursuing political interests and a violent campaign involving people armed with weapons.
“There is complete clarity. The organisers of this march will be held accountable if even a single life is lost,” he said.
Naqvi said there were still some “sensible” voices within the opposition and hoped they would reconsider their decision. “There is only loss in it, no sort of gain at all,” he added.
He reiterated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had repeatedly invited the opposition from the floor of parliament to hold talks on all issues. “If you want to resolve matters through violent mobs, we are ready for it,” he said.
The interior minister reaffirmed that the government had finalised its preparations and all law enforcement agencies were ready.
“We will not allow people to spread turbulence as happened in the past,” he said.
In a detailed judgment issued today, the IHC ruled that any activity resulting in infringement of citizens’ fundamental rights amounts to a violation of the Constitution.
It warned that public office holders responsible for such violations would also be deemed to have breached their oath of office.
The court also held that the right to peaceful assembly could not be exercised in a manner that infringed the fundamental rights of other citizens.
Kohat attack
Commenting on the attack in Kohat, Naqvi said security agencies had been fighting terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“We have to focus on this, rather than making strategies for mobilising masses, arranging transport and collecting money,” he said.
“After such incidents, it doesn’t suit you to call for long marches and, on the other hand, lift the dead bodies of martyrs,” he added.
He further said the KP chief minister and his cabinet should work towards eradicating terrorism with the same spirit with which they were carrying out campaigns for long marches.
Earlier today, at least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines. More than 80 people were injured, according to the officials.
The incident was followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities, according to senior police and district health officials.
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