Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a press conference on Friday expressed serious security concerns ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Rawalpindi on November 26 (tomorrow).
Earlier today, the home minister chaired a special meeting ahead of PTI’s long march to the capital demanding early elections.
The minister asserted that “it is the constitutional responsibility of the provincial governments to prevent any political party from illegally entering the federal capital”.
“Chief Secretaries should ensure that no public servant becomes part of any initiative or plan to attack the federation,” he added.
Advising PTI chief Imran Khan to postpone the march while talking to reporters, the minister said “all intelligence agencies have put on red alert for a long march in the city”.
“Your own life is also at risk,” he stressed to Imran, hinting at a possible attack by banned militant outfits.
Explaining his comments, the minister said, “Al-Qaeda just needs to find an agent who is willing to carry out an attack. Do you think that would be a difficult task to do?”
“There are people who are interested in creating chaos and stirring up conflict,” he added. “They want us to fight and kill each other. Isn’t it a great opportunity for such elements when a politician in his own life has named rivals in his murder FIR to blame himself?” Automatically move on them?
Sanaullah assured the conference that he has directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure tight security at all entrances and exits of the rally due to the red alert.
“I have discussed in detail with Punjab Chief Secretary and Inspector General (IG) to ensure that all four sides of the stage are secured and every audience can enter only after searching the body.
“The stage should be bulletproof at all costs,” he said, adding that access to the stage should be restricted because “if there are 200 people standing on it, who knows who did what?” “What?”
The minister also revealed that he had shared a letter with party secretary general Asad Umar, adding that if the PTI wanted to confirm the claims, it was welcome to “representatives of the agency.” Sit down with and see for yourself”.
“We have told them after holding all these meetings that there are threats,” he added, adding that he directed the administration to take full responsibility and maintain tight security.
He dismissed rumors that the capital was being blocked by containers, saying, “We have allowed them to take whatever route they want,” he said.
However, he stressed that “the solution to his [Imran’s] problem is to return to Parliament” as he maintained that the only way things could move forward was for all politicians to end the “deadlock”. get together
Sanaullah said that now there is no purpose of this long march, you say that you are coming to Rawalpindi to get the election date, Imran Khan, now you will not get the election date.
Discouraging supporters from joining the rally, the minister said it was not a call for “real freedom” but a call to destabilize the country.
It should be noted that Tehreek-e-Insaaf was given permission to hold a dharna in Faizabad for the party’s rally tomorrow.
According to JEE News, the Rawalpindi administration issued a 56-point conditional permit to Tehreek-e-Insaf to stage a dharna near Faizabad.
The notification further said that the British cricket team will arrive in Rawalpindi soon, so the venue should be completely vacated after the rally is over.
In the notification, orders were issued to the Rawalpindi police to take all necessary security measures for the rally.
It clarified that PTI Chairman Imran Khan can only use the route decided by PTI, Islamabad administration and security agencies. Moreover, Imran was barred from using a vehicle with a sunroof before and after the rally.
A day earlier, the district administration of Islamabad had refused to allow PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan to land his helicopter at the parade ground for the November 26 Faizabad rally.
The federal government has extended the implementation of Section 144 in the federal capital by two more months. The District Magistrate has issued a notification in this regard.
