Sanaullah won’t stay if there’s room for one: Imran

PTI moves IHC against interior minister for issuing ‘direct threats’

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in response to recent remarks by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah expressed his desire for both the parties to remain active in the political arena, saying that should the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) insist on the notion that only one party can exist, then Sanaullah will not stay.

On Saturday, the interior minister said in an interview with a private news channel that "the country’s politics has been brought to the level where the existence of only one of the two [PTI and PML-N] is possible”.

Sanaullah also said that when the ruling party felt that its existence was under threat, it could go to any extent against its chief political rival—without considering “what is illegal or undemocratic”.

In an informal conversation with journalists outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday, Imran noted that if those supporting the government were to withdraw their support, the government would collapse.

When asked who was in power, Imran responded that the answer was well-known. He went on to express his concern over the rule of law in the country, citing the alleged kidnapping of Azhar Mashwani and the release and subsequent arrest of Hassaan Niazi.

Imran also stated that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was likely waiting for his (Imran’s) disqualification or death before returning to Pakistan.

To another question about resisting arrests, the former prime minister said that if he had committed any crime, he would have obliged.

In light of Sanaullah's statements, the PTI chief filed an application against the interior minister for issuing "direct threats" against him and his party at the IHC.

Seeking the IHC's intervention on the matter, Imran requested the court to block his arrest and prevent the respondents from carrying out their "plans".

Notably, in addition to Sanaullah, the federal government, Islamabad IG and SSP operations had been made respondents in the case.

PTI Secretary General Asad Umar also issued a statement, saying that courts should take notice of Sanaullah's statements, adding that the party "has no intention to threaten his existence".

"We did not make any cases when we were in the government," he said. "All cases against Sanaullah were National Accountability Bureau's references."

He simultaneously lamented the crackdown on PTI workers, saying: "Five hundred PTI workers have been arrested in Islamabad alone."

Similarly, former minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Shiekh Rashid also condemned the interior minister's remarks.

"They usurped the state," Rashid said, claiming that Sanaullah "wants bloodshed in the country".