The interior ministry has decided to implement “stringent measures” to address the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protest scheduled for November 24. Legal action would be taken against individuals involved in any disturbances and security agencies have been fully instructed to prepare.
The ministry has directed security forces to enhance the security of all government and key buildings, ordering the deployment of heavy contingents in such areas.
There is also consideration being given to cancelling the educational credentials and admissions of students involved in any disruptive activities during the protest, according to a spokesperson for the interior ministry.
Furthermore, the ministry is reviewing the possibility of cancelling the passports and identity cards of those identified as troublemakers during the PTI protest, as well as blocking their SIM cards.
It has initiated surveillance of suspicious locations to counter potential terrorist threats, with geo-fencing also under way in Afghan refugee camps.
Meanwhile, PTI’s information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram criticized the government, stating that it is in a state of “panic” regarding the upcoming protest on November 24. “We are accustomed to these tactics,” he said.
Akram pointed out that the imposition of Section 144 for two months demonstrates the government’s “fear” of the PTI. “We know how to handle all these tactics,” he added.
He further noted that the government is deploying heavy security forces in Islamabad, alleging that many of such personnel are likely to be PTI voters themselves.
The PTI leader condemned the interior ministry’s alleged attempts to intimidate the public, labelling the restrictions on student admissions and the blocking of identity cards and mobile SIMs as “outdated tactics.”
He claimed that people from all provinces would participate in the protest and appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to play a role in the matter.
Akram criticised the new tax policies as a “significant burden” on landowners, warning that the government’s anti-farmer stance in Punjab would have “negative repercussions” for all provinces. He noted that farmers from Punjab cannot transport their goods to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to established checkpoints.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur did not seek permission from the former prime minister to engage in negotiations, he said. Instead, Akram added that the KP chief minister informed the party chairman about the plans for a convoy leaving the province.
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The PTI leader revealed that Gandapur questioned what they should do if the government calls for negotiations. Khan, according to him, responded that they could negotiate if their demands were met.
The PTI founder emphasised that “anyone wishing to negotiate should come directly to them,” he said and claimed that Khan concluded the meeting with the instructions that “they must protest under all circumstances.”
He mentioned that the message regarding the number of participants from MNAs and MPAs was from the former chairman, warning that if they fail to meet the required numbers, they would have no place in the party.
