- PTI lawmakers given 400,000 rupees to incite unrest: Bokhari.
- There is no truth in reports of divisions within the PTI, says Saif.
- PPP’s Rehman censures KP government for security situation in the province.
The Punjab government took a tough stance ahead of the final call for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest, saying it would deal with the November 24 protesters as it would deal with terrorists.
While talking to reporters outside the Lahore High Court, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said: “While they (PTI) may have plans A, B and C, l ‘State owns the entire ABC.’
The provincial minister’s remarks come in the wake of the impending ‘do or die’ protest announced by the former ruling party in Islamabad, which has repeatedly called for the release of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan and return to his mandate which he claims was stolen during the February 8 elections.
The former ruling party has for months been at odds with the ruling government and has repeatedly marched on the federal capital, leading to a crackdown on its leaders and workers.
Elaborating on the government’s strategy, Bokhari said that on November 24, the government would respond to protesters the same way it deals with terrorists.
The minister alleged that the rally led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in Islamabad in October resulted in expenditure of Rs 810 million to the exchequer.
She also claimed that PTI members in provincial and national assemblies were being paid Rs 400,000 each to incite unrest.
Alleging that individuals from the PTI propaganda cell were involved in the fake video case, she expressed hope that justice would be served speedily in the matter.
In a statement, KP CM’s lawyer advisor Saif said government officials were resorting to press conference after press conference following the call for protest.
“Reports of rifts within the PTI may be the government’s hope, but they contain no truth. The government is baffled,” the KP government official remarked.
“Protest in your own province”
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, without mentioning any names, took a dig at the party founded by Khan and said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Party People’s Party of Pakistan (PPP) had also staged protests, but they both did so within limits.
“If you (PTI) want to stage a sit-in, do it in your own province (KP),” Aurangzeb remarked while mocking the PTI government in KP.
“Hospitals are being built in Punjab, farmers are being given cards… If there is progress in all sectors, then what is the problem,” the minister asked, apparently referring to the aim and the intention of the PTI protest.
“The November 24 demonstration is the battle for Zaman Park and Bani Gala,” she added.
PPP criticizes protests
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman in a statement expressed concerns over the PTI and questioned why the party, if it had engaged in a peaceful protest, had not sought permission prior notice from the Islamabad administration.
Instead, the party seems to be planning strategies to confront the law enforcement agencies, said the PPP leader, whose party is a member of the ruling alliance at the Centre.
Rehman asserted that the PTI’s approach does not reflect the intention of a peaceful political gathering but rather signals a disruptive agenda.
She criticized the PTI-led KP provincial government for preparing to storm Islamabad instead of tackling the pressing law and order problems of the province.
Highlighting the deteriorating security situation in KP, Rehman accused the PTI provincial government of prioritizing chaos over peace and development of the region.
She further commented on the PTI founder’s repeated calls for dialogue with state institutions, saying these were not negotiations but requests for agreement.
Rehman pointed out that even international newspapers reported Khan’s efforts to reach an agreement with the institutions.
Reinforced security
With the PTI refusing to back down on its call to protest, the government has also been preparing for demonstrations, with police in Punjab and Islamabad seeking additional personnel to maintain law and order.
More than 10,700 police officers from across Punjab were put on standby and forces were supplied with tear gas, rubber bullets and riot gear.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad administration has also requisitioned 8,000 more people from Punjab, Sindh and Kashmir.
Section 144, banning gatherings of more than five people, has been imposed in Islamabad for two months.
The Rangers and the Frontier Corps (FC) are already deployed in the capital which could be sealed off with sea containers by Friday, November 22.