ISLAMABAD: While leadership and activists of the Imran Khan-founded party heading towards the federal capital despite roadblocks, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said everyone has the right to hold protest demonstration but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters are going to “attack Is-lamabad with weapons”.
“This is not the right way and we will not allow this to happen,” the security czar said while talking to journalists in Islamabad on Friday. With hoards of the PTI workers are travelling towards the federal capital amid visits of foreign dignitaries.
Naqvi said he had requested the PTI a day ago as well “not to hold rally for now”. The minister added that he would not let anyone damage properties.
On Thursday, he also warned the PTI against holding the public gathering as visits of foreign dignitaries, including the Malaysian prime minister, were planned in Islamabad.
Amid its anti-government campaign, the former ruling party is holding protests for the “independ-ence” of the judiciary and the release of the former prime minister from jail.
The protest coincides with the final day of the Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Pakistan and ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The authorities have al-ready enforced Section 144 and “the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024”, regulating holding of public assemblies at certain places in Islamabad.
“The PTI’s top leadership should review its protest call […] No one will be allowed for an onrush on Is-lamabad,” the security czar had said while addressing a presser along with officials of the federal po-lice.
In today’s news conference, he said the security force deployed by the government did not wield guns, whereas “you could see in videos and pictures that those coming towards Islamabad are carrying arms”.
“The KP chief minister [Ali Amin Gandapur] is a Pakistani. He should think what he’s doing. He has an entire province under his command; he should hold protest wherever he wants,” Naqvi said, adding that they had the right to hold protest, but it was not the right way to do it.
“I am clear in my stance that they are storming Islamabad,” he said.
Meanwhile, the interior minister said, the government had taken some extra measures for security of the foreign guests. “Providing security to those guests was crucial.” –Agencies
