Sanaullah says he will stop PTI’s long march if allies give go-ahead

I will not let PTI leaders to even come out of their homes, says interior minister

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the strategy to handle the PTI’s long march to Islamabad will be finalised with the consultation of allied parties, warning that the action would be taken if protesters attempted to spread chaos.

Addressing a PML-N workers convention in Bhawalpur on Sunday, the minister said the government was taking all decisions in the larger national interest and with the consultation of all ally parties.

"If coalition parties come to a decision of not allowing PTI to hold the long march, then I will not let them [PTI leaders] to even come out of their homes," Sanaullah remarked.

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He said the government will deal with PTI protesters as per law and no one will be allowed to disrupt peace and order.

Later in the day, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced that his party would kick off the much-hyped long march against the 'imported government' to Islamabad on May 25.

Sanaullah also lashed out at Imran Khan for promoting the culture of using “unethical and abusive language” against political opponents.

He said that the PTI government did nothing but increasing prices of edible items, medicines and others things. “Prices of cooking oil, sugar and other items had gone through the roof during the PTI regime,” he said, adding that even prices of medicines were increased more than six times.

The interior minister also opposed the arrest of the PTI leader and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, saying that the arrest of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz by the PTI government was also wrong.

Responding to a question, he said that the arrest of Mazari was not ordered by federal or provincial governments rather the “law took its due course”.

He said the government will order judicial probe into her arrest in line with the court’s decision and added that PTI came into power with the help of “some powers” and the PML-N candidates were harassed by powers that be during the 2018 general elections.

Bahawalpur province

Sanaullah said that restoration of Bahawalpur province is part of PML-N’s manifesto and a bill has already been passed with two-third majority from Punjab Assembly for formation of Bahawalpur and South Punjab provinces.

To another question, Sanaullah said that Pakistan was facing economic crisis due to PTI government’s agreement with IMF.

He said that cybercrime laws need to be reformed to keep a vigil on abuse of social media.

He further said that PML-N will introduce cybercrime laws which will give freedom to social media users but also keep a check on abusive and fake content.

(With input from APP)