- Asif says the government has no choice but to “use force” against protesters.
- “The government’s determination to defend capital at all costs must be demonstrated.”
- If a sit-in is organized, it will be a huge setback for the country, according to the minister.
ISLAMABAD: Amid reports of negotiations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Defense Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that the talks ended “inconclusively” as the Former first lady Bushra Bibi, who is leading the caravan, “can smell blood and is in no mood to compromise.”
“She (Bushra) knows that she is close to D-Chowk and that she has become a leader…she will exploit the advantage that she has,” the PML-N leader said during ‘a speech on Geo News program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.
He stressed that the government had no choice but to “use force” against protesters trying to enter Islamabad. “They (PTI) believe that they have an advantage and will continue to march towards (Islamabad),” he added.
Asif believes that the government’s “clear” determination to defend the capital at all costs should be manifested, especially during the visit of a foreign dignitary, the Belarusian president, to the country.
In response to a question, the defense minister said the former first lady had been given a “lifetime opportunity” to become a leader and “she would capitalize on that advantage.”
Asked about the negotiations, he reaffirmed that the lady, Bushra Bibi, was “in no mood to compromise” and that “the power is in her hands and she feels it.”
“Imran knows that his wife is in control of the situation,” he said, reiterating that the government should show resolve in the face of the deteriorating situation and if they reached D-Chowk and staged a sit-in, “It would be a huge setback for the country.” “.
Earlier, sources had told Geo News that the first round of negotiations between the government and the former ruling party were unsuccessful.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held negotiations with PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on behalf of the federal government.
They said the PTI remained firm on its demand to ensure the immediate release of the PTI founder, who has been behind bars since August last year.
PTI leaders, according to internal sources, also rejected the government’s offer to stage a sit-in at Parade Ground or Peshawar Mor in the federal capital.
The PTI supporters entered the federal capital following the appeal of their jailed party founder, to gather at D-Chowk in the capital and stay there until their demands are met. The release of the imprisoned ex-Prime Minister, among other things, is what the party is seeking.
Authorities have imposed a security lockdown for the past two days to block protesters, whom jailed PTI founder Imran Khan has called to march to Parliament for a sit-in to demand his release, while highways leading to the city was barricaded.
The government used shipping containers to block Islamabad’s main roads and streets, many of them patrolled by large contingents of police and paramilitaries in riot gear.
The party founded by Imran Khan has marched in the federal capital several times in recent months, which has seen its workers clash with law enforcement agencies (LEA).