Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday vowed that maintenance of law and order would be ensured at all costs in the federal capital, and no one would be allowed to take the law into his hands.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said permission was given to Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for holding a public gathering at H-9 on Saturday and a show-cause notice had already been issued to them for vacating the venue. Srinagar Highway would be kept open on the directives of the apex court, he added.
He said stern action would be taken against those who were found involved in blocking the roads besides registering first information reports (FIRs) against them.
The minister said permission was given to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for holding a rally at H-9 today (Monday).
He said holding a rally was the opposition’s constitutional right, but their time had run out. He expressed the hope that Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) would avoid confrontation and vacate the venue as PML-N had already been allowed to hold a public gathering there on the day.
If someone tried to create hurdles, the administration would take action as per the directions of the court, he warned.
Taking jibes at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto for seeking the prime minister’s resignation, he said the “gang of three” would never succeed in their designs, adding that Imran Khan would emerge victoriously. The opposition did not know that Imran Khan would play till the last ball, he asserted.
He claimed the opposition was making efforts to buy the conscience of members through looted money.
Terming PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif a fugitive, he said Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif was also trying to escape but was caught at the airport.
The minister said the control room at the interior ministry would remain open round the clock for seven days, adding that he would personally monitor the situation.
He said the voting on no-confidence against the premier might be held on April 4 if the motion would be tabled on March 28 in the house.
Rashid said the name of MNA Jam Abdul Karim had been put on the exit control list, and directives had been issued to arrest him soon after his arrival from Dubai as he was nominated for the murder of journalist Nazim Jokhio.
He said anti-Pakistan elements wanted to sabotage the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Foreign Ministers summit, but the armed forces, Rangers, FC and the administration foiled all such designs.
Replying to a question, the minister said that he had advised the PM to impose a governor’s rule in Sindh and declare an emergency, but the PM rejected his idea.
Keeping in view the immense popularity of Imran Khan, he said that he advised the PM to go for early general elections after the passage of a poor-friendly and welfare-oriented budget for the year 2022-23.
The minister also declared PTI’s Islamabad power show as a battle between forces of evil and good.
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