ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned march on Islamabad as a potentially “decisive” confrontation, saying the party may not be able to turn towards the federal capital in the same manner again.
Speaking in an interview in New York, where he is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Khawaja Asif referred to statements by PTI leaders comparing Islamabad with Somnath.
“Islamabad is the capital of a major Islamic and nuclear state,” the defence minister said, adding that, God willing, the September 27 attempt would be PTI’s last such effort.
PTI has announced a march on Islamabad for September 27. Federal ministers have also said the party would not be allowed to enter the capital.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned that the youth would respond strongly if the government attempted to stop the protest. PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president and National Assembly member Junaid Akbar had earlier said that the party would not remain silent if its protest was suppressed.
Khawaja Asif said it was also possible that PTI supporters might not turn up for the march, which he described as another decisive development.
He added that the federation and Pakistan could no longer afford such confrontational situations.