Naqvi warns PTI protesters of strict action during Malaysian PM's visit

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned that no leniency will be shown to those who attempt to protest in Islamabad’s D-Chowk, emphasising that the presence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the country should prompt the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to postpone its demonstrations.

In a press conference held in Islamabad on Thursday, Naqvi stated, “The prime minister of Malaysia is here, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting is also being held in Pakistan. PTI should reconsider its plans. When a foreign leader is in the country, saying that we will storm Islamabad is simply not right.”

Naqvi stressed that the Malaysian prime minister’s protocol would not be compromised. “We cannot allow any rallies of this nature when a foreign head of state is in the city. If you launch a protest, whose interests are you really serving?” he questioned, recalling how a minor incident during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lahore still affects Pakistan’s reputation.

He further warned that anyone attempting to gather at D-Chowk would face strict consequences. “Those who get caught will not be shown any leniency,” Naqvi said, adding that it was unbecoming of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to support such actions. "We have made full arrangements in case of any protests in Islamabad, and I warn them now—there should be no complaints later."

Naqvi also mentioned that a delegation from Saudi Arabia is expected to arrive soon and that the army has been deployed in Islamabad to ensure security. “We must guarantee security at all costs. It doesn’t suit anyone, as a Pakistani, to cause disruption during these high-profile visits,” he said.

Naqvi also noted that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has requested PTI to delay their protest. "If they don't, the state will be there to handle it," he added.

He urged political workers to think carefully before taking to the streets. “Don’t complain to us later. We have laid out our strategy up until the 17th of October,” Naqvi concluded.