ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday warned PTI against its proposed September 27 long march, urging the party to refrain from proceeding with the protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naqvi\u2019s remarks come as the party prepares<\/u><\/a> for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on September 27 to press for the release of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have clearly told them (PTI) that they can never achieve anything through such drama, and I will say again that there is still time; they should not go into this situation,\u201d Naqvi said during a press briefing, advising the party to \u201cnot enter a dead-end street\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The interior minister vowed the government will not \u201cleave any loopholes\u201d in its response if the party went ahead with the protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He held that PTI\u2019s majority leadership was not in favour of the march. \u201c[However], if they do, then we have the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order<\/a>, and the government will ensure its implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The IHC order, issued on September 14, ruled that no political party or its leadership has the \u201clawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas and buildings in Islamabad\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naqvi appealed to PTI to adopt a different approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not harm yourself and your workers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On being asked if the government had any \u201clong-term solution\u201d to PTI\u2019s frequent protest calls, the interior minister said, \u201cI believe this time we will find a permanent solution; we will not leave it halfway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked why the government was reluctant to shift PTI founder Imran Khan to a private health facility \u2014 as requested by his party and family \u2014 amid concerns about his health, the minister said doctors examined Imran last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf they demand that his check-up should be done at a hospital, then we did have one last night [..] we are already fulfilling the demand,\u201d Naqvi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs for the treatment that is prescribed under the law, we will do everything according to the law. But we will not do it simply because they are demanding it,\u201d the interior minister added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naqvi, during his talk, reiterated that PTI\u2019s senior leadership was not in favour of the march.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On being asked if the interior ministry will fulfil its role in the upcoming protests, he said, \u201cThis time, we will fulfil our role completely. As I said, it will be once and for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked whether the federal government had any plans to ban the party, the interior minister reiterated, \u201cAs I am telling you, this time we will find a once-and-for-all solution. We cannot afford this every time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naqvi was also asked if the government was considering imposing governor rule in PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). At this, the minister said, \u201cLook, we have already made it clear to them that whatever legal options are available, the prime minister, in consultation with our law ministry, will utilise them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, he clarified that the party will not be allowed to \u201ccome to Islamabad and shut down the city for ten days. That possibility does not exist\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naqvi also spoke about the creation of new provinces,<\/a> saying that the matter was progressing rapidly and that public participation in the campaign had increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said: \u201cThe new provinces issue is moving forward at a pace that we cannot even imagine. The way people are practically coming forward, whether they are chambers, traders or individuals, everyone is playing their role in one way or another. I am very hopeful that, God willing, and if the public wants it, new provinces will certainly be created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd as far as the movement for new provinces is concerned, I believe it is moving ahead rapidly,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Naqvi\u2019s warning comes as part of the government\u2019s pushback<\/a> against the party\u2019s proposed march.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last week, following the IHC judgement<\/a>, Naqvi warned<\/a> that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital \u201cin every possible way\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking to media in Kohat later in the day, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reiterated that no \u201cviolent group will be allowed to descend upon Islamabad\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI cannot remember a peaceful PTI protest in the recent past,\u201d Tarar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThough I absolutely remember that Rangers and police personnel were martyred. Peaceful protesters do not leave their homes armed with sticks, nails, glass or slingshots,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The information minister accused the party\u2019s demonstrators of damaging state property and harassing women, recalling that they had allegedly set a Metro station and trees on fire during one of their demonstrations in Islamabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey should never even use the word \u2018peaceful\u2019 since they have never been peaceful nor can remain so. Therefore, no violent group can be allowed to enter Islamabad,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar also accused the PTI government of corruption and \u201cbad intentions\u201d in KP, questioning where the law and order funding was being spent in the wake of last week\u2019s deadly Kohat blast<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He slammed KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for going to Lahore<\/a> and \u201crecording videos on a charpoi\u201d \u2014 a trip that concluded<\/a> days before the Kohat blast \u2014 rather than staying in his province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho will answer for the additional NFC<\/a> (National Finance Commission Award) funds<\/a> that have exceeded Rs150 billion?\u201d Tarar asked, alleging that the funds were being used for political purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have to answer for where you spent the law and order fund as policemen are sacrificing their lives,\u201d he added, addressing Afridi and noting that the money should have been invested in police training and technical enhancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tarar had also expressed the government\u2019s determination not to allow any violent group to enter Islamabad or block roads on Sunday, stressing that the administration would ensure compliance with an IHC order against disruption to public movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\u2018No violent group will be allowed\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n