Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday warned PTI against its proposed September 27 long march, urging the party to refrain from proceeding with the protest.
He made the statement while addressing a press briefing. Naqvi’s remarks come as the party prepares for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on Sept 27 to press for the release of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.
“We have clearly told them (PTI) that they can never achieve anything through such drama, and I will say again that there is still time; they should not go into this situation,” he said, advising the party to “not enter a dead-end street”.
Naqvi vowed the government will not “leave any loopholes” in its response if the party went ahead with the protest.
The interior minister held that PTI’s majority leadership was not in favour of the march. However, “if they do, then we have the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order, and the government will ensure its implementation”.
He appealed to PTI to adopt a different approach.
“Do not harm yourself and your workers,” he said.
On being asked if the government had any “long-term solution” to PTI’s frequent protest calls, the interior minister said, “I believe this time we will find a permanent solution; we will not leave it halfway”.
On Imran Khan’s medical treatment, the minister said PTI’s demand was for the former premier to undergo a medical check-up at a hospital.
He was responding to a question about whether the party’s basic demand was to shift Imran to a hospital, what the issue was and why he had not been shifted.
“There is no need for us to tell them that if this is their demand, then it may already have been fulfilled, as the check-up may have taken place at a hospital during the night,” he said.
“As for the treatment that is prescribed under the law, we will do everything according to the law. But we will not do it simply because they are demanding it,” the interior minister added.
Naqvi also spoke about the creation of new provinces, saying that the matter was progressing rapidly and that public participation in the campaign had increased.
“The new provinces issue is moving forward at a pace that we cannot even imagine. The way people are practically coming forward, whether they are chambers, traders or individuals, everyone is playing their role in one way or another. I am very hopeful that, God willing, and if the public wants it, new provinces will certainly be created,” he said.
“And as far as the movement for new provinces is concerned, I believe it is moving ahead rapidly,” he added.
On being asked whether the government was considering the imposition of the governor rule in PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the minister said, “Look, we have already made it clear to them that whatever legal options are available, the prime minister, in consultation with our law ministry, will utilise them”.
However, he clarified that the party will not be allowed to “come to Islamabad and shut down the city for ten days. That possibility does not exist”.
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