Govt to stop anyone marching on Islamabad ‘in every possible way: Naqvi

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has declared that the government will take every measure to prevent any group from marching towards Islamabad, as warned by a recent Islamabad High Court ruling. Speaking at a press conference alongside other officials, Naqvi emphasized the government's commitment to not allowing anyone to take matters into their own hands within the federal capital.

This announcement comes in response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's call for nationwide protests on September 27, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan and asserting the supremacy of the Constitution. Prior to the press conference, a terrorist attack occurred at Kohat Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque inside the police compound.

Six attackers were killed during a clearance operation, and the incident resulted in 16 deaths and over 50 injuries. Naqvi addressed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, urging him to refrain from staging protests within his province, stating that attacking any other province is unacceptable. Instead, Afridi should focus on combating terrorism.

Naqvi criticized Afridi and his cabinet for prioritizing long marches while dealing with the consequences of such attacks, urging them to dedicate their efforts to eradicating terrorism. He also cautioned opposition leaders against mobilizing people, collecting funds, and arranging transport for protests, warning that organizers would face consequences if anyone were to lose their life during these demonstrations.

Naqvi emphasized that political confrontation at this time would be detrimental to the nation's economy and society. KP Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed affirmed that the clearance operation in Kohat would continue until the complete elimination of "Fitna-ul-Khawarij," or foreign-sponsored terrorists, while President Asif Ali Zardari stressed the importance of eliminating such foreign-sponsored terrorists for national security. Naqvi reiterated that the attackers' cowardly acts would not weaken the nation's resolve.