Lahore (Pakistan Khabar): Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that strict action will be taken if it advances towards Islamabad, saying an Islamabad High Court order is already in place and its implementation will be ensured.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi said protests would benefit no one, but could harm the country’s economy. He added that even serious politicians within PTI do not support the long march.
The Interior Minister said no local minister was present at the funeral prayers of the martyrs in Peshawar last night. He said political differences were one thing, but failing to attend the funerals of martyrs was regrettable.
He advised PTI that there was still time and that it should not choose a path from which there would be no return. According to him, any plan that could harm both the party and the country should be avoided; otherwise, the Islamabad High Court’s decision would be implemented.
Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that this time the country would not be allowed to remain shut down for 10 or 20 days. He said that if the demand concerned a medical examination of the PTI founder at a hospital, the process had already been carried out last night, while PTI’s own demands were also unclear.
The Interior Minister said that loud claims would make no difference and that if an attempt was made to come to Islamabad for the long march, no concession would be granted under the law.
Referring to rising global oil prices, Mohsin Naqvi said that even yesterday, a Pakistani oil tanker was allowed to pass only with great difficulty. However, he said the government was making efforts to keep prices down.
Regarding the creation of new provinces, he said the matter was moving forward rapidly and public support for new provinces was also increasing.