Rana Sanaullah says no compromise on writ of the state

Spokesman Report

ISLAMABAD: Amid rising pressure from the PTI for early elections and the government’s decision to stay put, the PML-N government has decided to stop Imran Khan’s Azadi March in Islamabad. The decision came during PML-N’s political committee meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair hours after a cop lost his life during a raid at the house of a PTI leader. With security beefed up in the federal capital and a crackdown against PTI members across the country last night, all eyes were on PTI’s long march to Islamabad announced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan earlier as part of the party’s anti-government campaign seeking early elections. Consultations over the existing political situation in the country and ways to tackle PTI’s long march were discussed in today’s meeting.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah gave a briefing on the law and order situation and measures to ensure peace and security. It was agreed that the “public’s security” must be ensured. “Such tactics are equal to ruining the economy,” PM Shehbaz Sharif was reported as saying in reference to the long march while addressing the meeting. The prime minister further stated that the state’s writ will not be compromised at any cost and the way to every illegal action will be blocked.

The meeting decided to take legal action in case of any violent or provocative act. The interior minister will brief the media over the strategy to stop the march in a press conference shortly.

All chief secretaries, IGs and other relevant officials will be taken on board over video and the district and provincial administrations will be given instructions on how to restrict the PTI from marching towards the federal capital.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is coming to attack Islamabad and the government of Pakistan will not let that happen. Talking in a press conference with PML-N leadership and the coalition parties, Rana Sana said that the government has decided to stop PTI’s long march as the government will not compromise on the writ of the state and no one will be allowed to bring Islamabad to a standstill.

He added that the government will ensure the security of the people. Federal Minister Sanaullah said that they will not allow PTI to spread chaos in the city and they are conspiring to divide the nation and we will not let that happen. “These people have moved from abuses to bullets, a police constable was killed,” he said.

Sanaullah claimed that the PTI leadership has disappeared from their residences and has gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that they [PTI leadership] are planning to use the province’s resources and personnel to “come and attack the federation”. “They want to come as a mob that has no legal or constitutional status…this cannot be allowed.” The interior minister said that former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan wanted to divide the nation. Warning the PTI supporters, he said: “Don’t be misled by Imran Khan. He directed his party members during rallies to call people from other parties robbers and traitors. This is how he wants to spread chaos and disorder.”

“Everybody has the right of freedom of expression and peaceful protest; however, the PTI did not want a peaceful protest,” he said, adding that if they hadn’t called it a “bloody march”, the government wouldn’t have stopped them. The interior minister said that the protection of the lives and properties of the capital’s people is the responsibility of the government and it will fulfil its duties “at all costs”. The interior minister warned that if deemed necessary, a public holiday will be announced in Islamabad tomorrow. “Imran Khan and his members must be arrested,” Sanaullah said, asserting that if given a chance, they will be taken into custody.

The interior minister said: “I can assure the people that the situation will return to normal by tomorrow evening.” Regarding the news of calling the army for the security of the Red Zone, he said that rangers and the army will be summoned if the Islamabad district administration requests.

Earlier today, sources said the interior minister had summoned the Pakistan Army for the security of the Red Zone in Islamabad, Geo News reported Tuesday, citing sources. According to the sources, army personnel will be stationed at PM House and PM Office, the Supreme Court and other sensitive government buildings in the area. All security arrangements will be handed over to the army, the sources said. Section 144 has also been imposed in the federal capital for two months. According to a notification, the restrictions have been extended up to one kilometre of the Red Zone.