With the National Assembly session on the no-trust vote just round the corner and the united opposition and the PTI-led government announcing public gatherings at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has warned that the no-trust move could lead to democratic instability in the country.

“Pakistan has international threats related to safety and peace and this is a shared responsibility of the government and the opposition [to maintain peaceful environment across the country],” the interior minister said, while talking to media in Islamabad on Wednesday.

He observerd that the prime minister would be the ultimate beneficiary of the opposition's no-trust move whether he loses or wins the votes as "Imran Khan's popularity has skyrocketed during the last three months".

Talking about the date to summon the National Assembly session in which the no-confidence motion would be presented, Rashid said March 27 would not be considered as it is a Sunday.

He counted the number of days since the no-trust move was submitted in the National Assembly Secretariat, that was March 8, and said the day of voting could either be March 29 or 30. “I will meet NA Speaker Asad Qaiser and confirm the date”.

Capital security

The interior minister, talking about the security of public gatherings that had been announced by the government and the opposition, said that around 1,000 personnel of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Rangers had been summoned to Islamabad for performing security duty. If needed, more personnel would be deployed to ensure law and order situation in the federal capital, he added.

“Special powers are being given to Police, Rangers and FC in the federal capital from March 20 to April 2,” he said, adding the government would provide full security and protection to both public gathering on March 25 and March 27.

“Ensuring protection to lives and properties of people are the responsibility of the interior ministry,” he added.

He added the opposition leadership should talk to the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner to identify the route of the rally and the ministry would provide them the safe route.

“The same will go for March 27 public gathering which will be held by the government,” he said.