PM Shehbaz lauds LEAs after Imran 'calls off' sit-in

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the progress of Pakistan was linked with the supremacy of the Constitution and ensuring the rule of law.

The premier expressed his views in conversation with personnel from law enforcement agencies, who were deployed in the Red Zone to ensure law and order during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s long march.

PM Shehbaz lauded the Rangers, Islamabad Police and the capital’s traffic police for rendering their duties professionally and protecting the lives and property of the populace.

He appreciated the dedication of the law enforcement personnel to perform their official duties regardless of their political affiliation.

During the PTI’s march to the federal capital on Wednesday, the army was called out in Islamabad in the wee hours of Thursday to protect government buildings in the Red Zone in the wake of violence before and after the arrival of the party's 'Azadi March'.

According to reports, party workers severely damaged property in the capital's Blue Area, setting fire to trees and burning telephone wires.

The Islamabad Police also reported that the party workers had entered the Red Zone after Imran left for Bani Gala early Thursday morning, following his announcement of a six-day ultimatum.

The premier also lauded Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif for dealing with the challenge effectively.

Read: SC refuses to initiate contempt proceedings against Imran over May 25 order

PM Shehbaz emphasised unity among all ranks of the nation to eliminate the scourge of anarchy and chaos.

He urged everyone to demonstrate the spirit of sacrifice and patriotism to make Pakistan a citadel of peace.

‘We will decide the election date’

Punjab government spokesperson Attaullah Tarar maintained that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies – not Imran Khan – will decide when the elections will take place after the ousted PM gave the government a six-day deadline for announcing polls.

Read More: PTI drive will continue until elections called: Rashid

He maintained that the PTI chief “must leave politics after the tragedy that befell this march”.

“Imran Niazi has pushed PTI to a dead end. He fell into the pit he had dug for others,” the tweet said.

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique also took to Twitter to condemn the PTI’s behaviour, claiming that assemblies will not be dissolved “at gunpoint” and that the “conspiracy to invade the coalition government will only be fuel for corruption and its facilitators instead of achieving power”.

He stated that during the most critical economic situation, attacks on the federal government have created threats to national security and that the “unholy satanic desire” to stay in power at any cost will lead the state to “economic slavery”.

Meanwhile, referring to PM Shehbaz's visit to D-Chowk, the PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz said "Fitna Khan and his group set fire here last night and fled."

She added that the place for visit is the same but 'the agenda' is different for both Shehbaz and Imran.