LAHORE: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against attempting to march on Islamabad, saying those who try to storm the federal capital will face serious consequences.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said PTI still had time to avoid entering a “dead end” and urged the party not to harm itself or its supporters.
“Storming Islamabad will benefit no one,” the interior minister said, adding that the government would not allow the country to remain paralysed for 10 to 20 days as a result of protests.
Naqvi claimed that most members of PTI’s leadership did not want to proceed with the long march. He warned that the government would adopt a permanent strategy to deal with any such attempt and would leave no room for leniency if protesters arrived in Islamabad.
The interior minister also said that if PTI proceeded with a sit-in, the government would implement the Islamabad High Court’s orders. He further claimed that the party itself was unclear about its demands.
Regarding PTI founder Imran Khan’s medical check-up, Naqvi said the former prime minister had undergone a check-up the previous night.
He added that all necessary treatment would be provided in accordance with the law, but said the government would not arrange medical examinations solely at PTI’s demand.
Naqvi also criticised the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and provincial ministers from the funeral prayers of security personnel killed in Hangu.
“Political differences can be as serious as they may be, but I have never seen such an extreme attitude,” he said, questioning whether the officials had become insensitive to the sacrifices of the deceased.
Commenting on other issues, the interior minister said changes in petrol prices were linked to fluctuations in the international market.
He also said the public was strongly supporting the creation of new provinces and expressed hope that new provinces would be established if circumstances allowed.