ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital \u201cin every possible way\u201d and file contempt of court proceedings against those who violated a recent Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside other officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interior minister\u2019s remarks came in the wake of PTI\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, the administrations of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad started preparations to counter the PTI\u2019s announced countrywide protest, including a request for detention of activists, arranging containers, seeking additional personnel and procuring anti-riot gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the outset of his press conference on Friday, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn light of the detailed IHC judgment, there is no possibility of ravaging the federal capital or any other province,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, he said, \u201cWe will stop the marchers in every possible way.\u201d All law enforcement agencies had been informed of the decision \u201cwith all clarity\u201d, Naqvi added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said weapons had been used and losses suffered in protests in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged the protesting party\u2019s leadership to hold demonstrations in their respective provinces and cities. \u201cPlans for locking down the capital or charging into another province will never be allowed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is our responsibility to stop this protest to ensure the protection of the lives and property of the capital\u2019s residents,\u201d the interior minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interior minister drew a distinction between a political protest aimed at pursuing political interests and a violent campaign involving people armed with weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is complete clarity. The organisers of this march will be held accountable if even a single life is lost,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naqvi said there were still some \u201csensible\u201d voices within the opposition and hoped they would reconsider their decision. \u201cThere is only loss in it, no sort of gain at all,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reiterated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had repeatedly invited the opposition from the floor of parliament to hold talks on all issues. \u201cIf you want to resolve matters through violent mobs, we are ready for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interior minister reaffirmed that the government had finalised its preparations and all law enforcement agencies were ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will not allow people to spread turbulence as happened in the past,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a detailed judgment issued today, the IHC ruled that any activity resulting in infringement of citizens\u2019 fundamental rights amounts to a violation of the Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It warned that public office holders responsible for such violations would also be deemed to have breached their oath of office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The court also held that the right to peaceful assembly could not be exercised in a manner that infringed the fundamental rights of other citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kohat attack<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the attack in Kohat, Naqvi said security agencies had been fighting terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to focus on this, rather than making strategies for mobilising masses, arranging transport and collecting money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter such incidents, it doesn\u2019t suit you to call for long marches and, on the other hand, lift the dead bodies of martyrs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier today, at least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines. More than 80 people were injured, according to the officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The incident was followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities, according to senior police and district health officials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital \u201cin every possible way\u201d 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":133346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n