The federal government has advised the PTI to return to Parliament and to have consultation and dialogue on Imran Khan’s demand for early elections. The government, however, warned the PTI of a “befitting reply” if it marched towards Islamabad with the aim to dislodge the coalition government.

“This will be the last time the PTI will march towards Islamabad,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday. “Electoral victory is not a license to storm Islamabad. We are completely prepared for it.”

The PTI has announced that it would begin its “long march” - or the march for real freeom as Imran Khan refers to it - towards Islamabad and oust the incumbent government. The PTI and its party leaders have repeatedly said that the incumbent PML-N led coalition government is “imported” and it was brought to power through a foreign-sponsored regime change. Imran has already advised party workers to complete preparations for the protest. He also took oaths regarding the same from party members in Punjab.

During his press conference, PML-N’s Sanaullah stressed that Parliament is for everyone. He reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s earlier offer of talks to Imran for improving the economic situation of the country.

Sanaullah opined that the PTI’s brand of politics fan the flames of hatred and engenders mob mentality, which he called detrimental for the country’s political and economic environment.

“If PTI wants to continue with their brand of politics and the people accept it, then they should get ready for the response.”

‘High electricity tariff cost election’

He admitted that the government was not able to resolve issues pertaining to inflation and high electricity tariff. “They (PTI) got some votes because of WAPDA,” he said.

Sanaullah explained that the prevailing issues would be resolved in the next two to three months, adding that floods triggered by rains “affected” the public relief initiatives.

Vote count

He advised Imran to respect the vote and voters of rival parties. “The PTI received 547,642 votes in the bye-elections in eight constituencies of the National Assembly and the PDM polled 475,370 votes. Imran wants us to accept these votes. so also respect the votes of others.”

The interior minister said that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif would lead the party’s campaign in the next general elections.