ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday warned that organisers of any protest in Islamabad would be held responsible if anyone lost their life during the planned demonstrations, urging political leaders to reconsider attempts to march on the federal capital in light of the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) detailed judgment.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Naqvi said law enforcement agencies had been directed to take legal action against anyone violating the court’s orders and prevent them from entering the federal capital in breach of the law.
“If anyone tries to come out and violates the Islamabad High Court judgment, we will first legally approach the court for contempt proceedings and, secondly, stop them by every possible means,” he said.
The remarks came after the IHC issued its detailed judgment in a case concerning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) proposed September 27 protest and long march, with the party demanding the release of its founder Imran Khan and calling for what it describes as supremacy of the Constitution.
The court observed that political parties have a constitutional right to peaceful assembly and political dissent, but their right to protest remains subject to the Constitution and law.
It stressed the need to maintain a balance between the right to political protest and the fundamental rights of other citizens, including their rights to life, liberty, dignity, freedom of movement and access to hospitals, educational institutions and courts.
Naqvi said political parties had the right to protest but should hold demonstrations in their own cities and provinces rather than attempt to shut down the federal capital or enter another province in a manner that disrupts public life.
“There is no justification for planning to shut down the federal capital or going to another province in this manner,” he said.
The minister said the government was also finalising rules of engagement for law enforcement personnel, noting that weapons had been used against security forces during previous protests and that authorities had suffered losses.
He said personnel had been given clear instructions and would respond if attacked.
Naqvi also referred to Friday’s deadly blast at the old Police Lines in Kohat, saying the country was already confronting terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He urged political leaders to focus on combating terrorism instead of mobilising people, collecting funds and arranging transport for protests.
The interior minister said the court’s directions were aimed at protecting the rights of Islamabad residents, including access to hospitals, educational institutions, businesses and other essential services.
Government machinery
Naqvi said the IHC had specifically addressed the use of government machinery for political protests.
He said provincial chief secretaries and police chiefs would be responsible for ensuring that government resources, vehicles, personnel and other machinery were not used to facilitate any march towards Islamabad.
He said officials who violated their oath of office by facilitating activities contrary to the court’s directions could face consequences.
“Whether it is me, Talal Sahib or anyone else sitting in this seat, it is our duty to protect life and property,” he said.
Protest or confrontation?
Naqvi distinguished between political rallies and groups arriving in the capital equipped for confrontation.
“Political rallies and processions happen, and political activity continues, but there is a difference between political gatherings and groups coming fully equipped,” he said.
He said political parties could hold demonstrations, but attempts to shut down the federal capital or enter it in violation of the law would not be permitted.
Naqvi also warned that organisers would bear responsibility for any loss of life during a protest.
“I will repeatedly say that, God forbid, if even one life is lost, those responsible will be the organisers who are bringing this group together,” he said.
He urged opposition leaders to reconsider the planned protest, saying political confrontation could cause economic and social disruption.
Call for talks
The interior minister urged the opposition to resolve political disputes through dialogue, saying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had repeatedly offered talks in parliament.
He said the government remained willing to discuss political issues but would not accept attempts to resolve them through confrontational street mobilisation.
Naqvi said the government had finalised its preparations and that law enforcement agencies from the provinces and the federal government were ready to implement the court’s directions.
He said authorities would not allow the kind of disorder witnessed during previous protests.
Asked whether the government would make further efforts to hold talks with the PTI leadership, Naqvi said peaceful political protest was a right but stressed that it had to remain peaceful.
“I am still in favour of peaceful protest, but it should be peaceful,” he said, adding that political parties could hold demonstrations in their own provinces.
Minimum disruption for Islamabad residents
Responding to concerns over the placement of containers and road closures ahead of the planned protest, Naqvi said he was personally against putting up containers but that security agencies sometimes required them as an option.
“I am personally against putting up containers,” he said.
However, he said the government had to take such measures when security agencies considered them necessary.
Naqvi apologised in advance to Islamabad residents for any inconvenience and said the government would try to minimise disruption.
“If they protest, we have to secure Islamabad, and for that we will have to put up blockades,” he said. “But we will try to keep them to the minimum possible.”
No request received for protest
Asked whether the government had received an application seeking permission for the protest, Naqvi said there was no question of granting permission for the planned march in light of the court’s judgment.
“There is no question of an application,” he said.
Naqvi said Punjab and other law enforcement agencies had been consulted and were working together, adding that he did not believe there were any gaps in the arrangements.
Law enforcement ready
Asked whether Islamabad Police had sufficient capacity to deal with the planned PTI long march, Naqvi said the capital police had to protect sensitive installations and diplomatic facilities, including the President’s House, Prime Minister’s House and Diplomatic Enclave.
He said other law enforcement agencies had therefore been brought in to supplement Islamabad Police.
Naqvi said a security meeting had been held and expressed confidence that law enforcement agencies would work together to handle the situation.
“We have full confidence that our law enforcement agencies will work together and handle this situation very well,” he said.
Medicine containers released
Responding to reports that police had stopped containers carrying medicines, Naqvi said the vehicles were briefly stopped because police could not immediately determine their contents.
He said the containers were released after drivers informed officials that they were carrying medicines.
Naqvi said the vehicles were released within roughly 30 to 45 minutes and had already been cleared before he was informed of the matter.
He urged journalists to verify such details before reporting that citizens’ lives had been put at risk.
Imran’s hospital transfer
Asked whether the government could face contempt proceedings over the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital, Naqvi said the Islamabad administration had already submitted a detailed response to the court.
He said the matter was currently before the judiciary and should be decided by the court.
“As far as Shifa Hospital is concerned, I think Islamabad administration has submitted a detailed response to the court and the case is currently before it,” he said.
Naqvi said the government was concerned about Imran Khan’s health and treatment and that security-related reasons for the decision had also been presented in the administration’s response.
“The court should decide that matter,” he said.
