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.
Naqvi’s remarks come as the party prepares for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on September 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,” Naqvi said during a press briefing, advising the party to “not enter a dead-end street”.
The interior minister vowed the government will not “leave any loopholes” in its response if the party went ahead with the protest.
He 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.”
The IHC order, issued on September 14, ruled that no political party or its leadership has the “lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas and buildings in Islamabad”.
Naqvi 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.”
When asked why the government was reluctant to shift PTI founder Imran Khan to a private health facility — as requested by his party and family — amid concerns about his health, the minister said doctors examined Imran last night.
“If they demand that his check-up should be done at a hospital, then we did have one last night [..] we are already fulfilling the demand,” Naqvi 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, during his talk, reiterated that PTI’s senior leadership was not in favour of the march.
On being asked if the interior ministry will fulfil its role in the upcoming protests, he said, “This time, we will fulfil our role completely. As I said, it will be once and for all.”
When asked whether the federal government had any plans to ban the party, the interior minister reiterated, “As I am telling you, this time we will find a once-and-for-all solution. We cannot afford this every time.”
Naqvi was also asked if the government was considering imposing governor rule in PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). At this, 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”.
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.
He said: “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.
“And as far as the movement for new provinces is concerned, I believe it is moving ahead rapidly,” he added.
Naqvi’s warning comes as part of the government’s pushback against the party’s proposed march.
Last week, following the IHC judgement, Naqvi warned that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital “in every possible way”.
‘No violent group will be allowed’
Speaking to media in Kohat later in the day, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reiterated that no “violent group will be allowed to descend upon Islamabad”.
“I cannot remember a peaceful PTI protest in the recent past,” Tarar said.
“Though I absolutely remember that Rangers and police personnel were martyred. Peaceful protesters do not leave their homes armed with sticks, nails, glass or slingshots,” he added.
The information minister accused the party’s demonstrators of damaging state property and harassing women, recalling that they had allegedly set a Metro station and trees on fire during one of their demonstrations in Islamabad.
“They should never even use the word ‘peaceful’ since they have never been peaceful nor can remain so. Therefore, no violent group can be allowed to enter Islamabad,” he declared.
Tarar also accused the PTI government of corruption and “bad intentions” in KP, questioning where the law and order funding was being spent in the wake of last week’s deadly Kohat blast.
He slammed KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for going to Lahore and “recording videos on a charpoi” — a trip that concluded days before the Kohat blast — rather than staying in his province.
“Who will answer for the additional NFC (National Finance Commission Award) funds that have exceeded Rs150 billion?” Tarar asked, alleging that the funds were being used for political purposes.
“You have to answer for where you spent the law and order fund as policemen are sacrificing their lives,” he added, addressing Afridi and noting that the money should have been invested in police training and technical enhancement.
Tarar had also expressed the government’s determination not to allow any violent group to enter Islamabad or block roads on Sunday, stressing that the administration would ensure compliance with an IHC order against disruption to public movement.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday also warned that strikes, sit-ins, long marches and road closures could cause an estimated Rs120 billion loss to the economy each day.
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