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.
At the outset of his press conference, 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.
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.
More to follow
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