LAHORE: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday warned that authorities would respond under the law to any attempt to force entry into Islamabad during a planned protest, while criticising the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over its response to recent militant attacks.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi said military personnel and police officers had been killed in recent attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and described them as national martyrs. He urged political leaders and the public to attend their funerals.
Naqvi criticised the provincial government, saying none of its representatives had attended the funerals of those killed in the recent attacks. He described this as insensitive and said political disagreements should not prevent officials from showing respect to those killed in the line of duty.
Turning to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned march, Naqvi claimed that a majority of the party’s leadership was not in favour of the move. He also questioned whether the organisers had clearly defined their demands, while saying the federal government would deal with any protest strictly within the legal framework.
Naqvi Warns PTI Against Planned Islamabad March
On the medical condition of jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, Naqvi said medical examinations had already been carried out, including a check-up during the night. He said further treatment or medical examinations would be arranged in accordance with applicable laws.
The interior minister also linked the security situation in Pakistan to developments in Afghanistan, saying normalisation would remain difficult unless Afghan authorities took action against militant groups accused by Pakistan of operating from Afghan territory.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns with Kabul over cross-border militant attacks, while Afghanistan has denied allowing its soil to be used against Pakistan.
Addressing fuel prices, Naqvi said international and regional market conditions were putting pressure on petroleum prices and that supply disruptions were being reported in different parts of the world. He said the government was taking measures to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies in Pakistan.
Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was seeking ways to bring petrol prices down and that the government was considering additional measures to reduce the impact on consumers.
On proposals for creating new provinces or administrative units, Naqvi said the process was progressing and expressed hope that new provinces would eventually be established. He stressed that any such changes should reflect the wishes of the people concerned.
Naqvi also warned against any attempt to march on Islamabad, saying those who violated the law would face consequences. He said the government would comply with directions issued by the Islamabad High Court and use the legal mechanisms available to maintain public order.
He added that the government would not allow Islamabad to remain paralysed for extended periods because of protests and said a longer-term strategy would be adopted to deal with future long marches.
