ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has decided not to let Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) go ahead with its long march.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting of the federal cabinet here on Tuesday. The meeting discussed the current political situation in the country and other matters of importance, the PM Office said.
Speaking to media after the cabinet meeting, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said the PTI’s long march is not democratic and they will not allow the long to avoid spreading chaos and discord.
“We will not allow fitna and fasaad (discord or chaos). They will be stopped so they cannot propagate their misleading agenda” Rana Sanaullah said “These people (PTI) have moved from abuses to bullets. A police constable was killed in Lahore.”
The interior minister claimed that the PTI leadership had gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was planning to use the province’s resources and personnel to “come and attack the federation”.
“They want to come as a mob that has no legal or constitutional status … this cannot be allowed.” PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan wanted to divide the nation, he added.
“Don’t be misled by Imran Khan. He directed his party members during rallies to call people from other parties robbers and traitors. This is how he wants to spread chaos and disorder.”
Sanaullah said everyone has the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, however, he said the PTI wanted to spread anarchy. He vowed to protect the lives and properties of the capital’s people “at all costs”.
Meanwhile, the federal government as well as the governments of Sindh and Punjab decided to impose a ban on gatherings under Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
All kinds of gatherings of five or more persons, processions and rallies and demonstrations at any public place have been prohibited for two months.
Authorities said the gatherings could pose a “threat to public property, and may lead to a riot or an affray including sectarian riot within the revenue/territorial limits of district Islamabad”.
