- Naqvi says violators to face contempt of court proceedings.
- Directs provinces to prevent protesters from entering ICT.
- “They [PTI] should think like patriotic Pakistanis,” says Naqvi.
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday warned that the government would stop anyone from marching on Islamabad “in every possible way”, holding those bringing protesters to the capital responsible for any loss of life during the demonstration.
The security czar’s warning came shortly after the Islamabad High Court (IHC), in its 37-page detailed verdict, ruled that no political party has the lawful right to occupy public roads, highways or buildings, in a petition against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march to Islamabad on September 27.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Naqvi said the IHC verdict left no room for an attempt to “storm Islamabad”, adding that anyone violating the verdict would face contempt of court proceedings.
“If someone comes out after the court’s decision, we will first initiate contempt of court proceedings. Otherwise, we will not allow anyone to come out,” the minister said, adding that the provinces had also been informed.
Referring to discussions on social media about people from a particular tribe coming to Islamabad, Naqvi said: “Political activity is one thing, while arriving in the form of armed mobs is quite another.”
“You should certainly protest, but do so in your own area and city,” he said, adding that peaceful protests should be held in the respective provinces.
The security czar said Islamabad could not be shut down, nor could attacks be allowed in the name of protest.
Naqvi said the government was fighting terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urging attention to the fight against militancy instead of protests, gathering people or collecting funds.
“It does not look good to carry the funerals of martyrs on one hand and prepare for a sit-in on the other,” he said.
He added that if the chief minister prepared to confront terrorists with the same level of readiness as for a sit-in, terrorism could be reduced considerably.
It is pertinent to mention here that at least 16 people, including five police officials, were martyred and more than 50 injured after explosions targeted a mosque inside Kohat Police Lines during Friday prayers, in KP.
“We are ready this time and will not allow the disorder that some people have spread in the past,” he said.
Naqvi said the interior ministry’s job was to prevent groups from entering Islamabad and that preparations to deal with them had been completed in consultation with all provinces.
“If they want to bring a group, we are fully prepared,” he said.
The minister urged “sensible leaders” in the opposition to reconsider the decision to hold the protest.
He also asked PTI to conduct a survey within its party, claiming that a majority of its members might not know why they were coming to Islamabad.
“They [PTI] should think as patriotic Pakistanis,” Naqvi said.
He clarified that he was personally against placing containers, but law enforcement agencies required them to be installed when necessary.
Naqvi said the KP government was responsible for maintaining law and order in its province.
‘Democratic struggle’
Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan held a meeting chaired by opposition alliance chief and Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai
The joint opposition has decided to formulate a coordinated political, media and public outreach strategy to make its September 27 protest effective.
The opposition parties also agreed to accelerate contacts with all democratic parties and decided to hold an All-Parties Conference (APC).
“All democratic political forces should unite on a single platform to steer the country out of the crisis,” read the statement issued by the TTAP.
The meeting declared that the September 27 long march would be a peaceful, constitutional and democratic struggle.
The joint opposition pledged to continue its collective struggle for constitutional supremacy, parliamentary sovereignty, provincial rights, civil liberties and resolution of public issues.
It added that an unrepresentative government had no authority to divide the provinces or turn them into mere administrative units.
