LAHORE: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned against any attempt to march on Islamabad, saying such a move would serve no purpose and would only cause losses to the protesters as well as the public.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said most of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership did not want to proceed with a long march and urged the party to reconsider its plans.
“There is still time. Do not enter a narrow alley from which there is no way back,” the interior minister said.
Naqvi said the government would fully implement the orders of the Islamabad High Court and added that political protests could not be allowed to repeatedly disrupt the country.
He said “such dramas” would not achieve anything and stressed that the government would not allow a situation in which protesters entered Islamabad and brought the country to a standstill.
“This time, we will prepare a complete plan. The government cannot keep tolerating such situations again and again,” he said.
Naqvi Says Imran Khan’s Medical Check-Up Being Conducted Under Law
Responding to questions about PTI founder Imran Khan’s health, Naqvi said the party’s demand for his medical check-up was already being addressed.
“They demand that the founder of PTI should be examined, and that demand is already being fulfilled. He is being provided treatment according to the law. A check-up was also conducted last night,” he said.
Naqvi urged PTI leaders to move beyond political considerations and focus on the broader situation.
“Please, for God’s sake, come out of your politics,” he said.
Interior Minister Criticises Absence of KP Ministers at Martyrs’ Funerals
Naqvi also criticised the absence of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ministers from the funerals of security personnel killed in recent incidents.
“I was attending the funerals of martyrs in Peshawar at 1am last night. No minister from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the funerals,” he said.
He said political differences could exist, but there were limits to political disagreements.
“You may have as many political differences as you want, but I have never seen anyone go this far. It has never happened that people did not attend the funerals of martyrs,” Naqvi said.
Petrol Prices Under Pressure Amid Global Situation
Commenting on the rising price of petroleum products, Naqvi said global market conditions were putting significant pressure on fuel prices.
“You know where petrol prices are going in the world,” he said, adding that the government was not benefiting financially from the increase.
“If we were putting the petrol money into our own pockets, then you could question us,” he said.
Referring to a recent statement by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Naqvi said the situation in international energy markets was extremely difficult.
“As Ali Pervaiz Malik rightly says, petrol may not even be available at Rs1,000 per litre. We managed to procure petrol with great difficulty yesterday as well,” he said.
Naqvi Expresses Optimism Over Creation of New Provinces
The interior minister also said the process concerning the creation of new provinces was progressing rapidly.
“The matter of new provinces is moving forward very quickly. I am very hopeful. God willing, new provinces will definitely be created,” Naqvi said.
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