Lahore: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would be held responsible if any loss of life occurs during the planned long march.
Naqvi made it clear that the government would not allow a repeat of the May 9 incidents and would not permit protesters to storm or attack Islamabad.
According to the interior minister, several issues had been resolved during negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and an agreement was nearly ready. However, he alleged that the KP chief minister disrupted the process by refusing to engage in discussions on terrorism-related concerns.
Naqvi said the PTI negotiating team had participated in the talks seriously and in good faith, but no agreement could be reached on measures to address terrorism.
He added that the government did not oppose the right to peaceful protest but would not allow any attempt to march on or forcefully enter Islamabad.
The interior minister said the government was not concerned about the long march and had made comprehensive security arrangements. He added that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been briefed about the failure of the negotiations, and the government would implement whatever decision they take regarding the next course of action.
