Dec 18 shutdown: Govt to sternly deal with PTI's 'civil disobedience'

According to sources JI will not to be a part of the PTI’s protest on December 18


Zahid Gishkori December 15, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday decided to deal sternly with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters during its call for countrywide shutdown on December 18.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali conveyed this message to PTI chairman Imran Khan through Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Sirajul Haq on Monday.

“We have very patiently dealt with [PTI] protests and sit-ins so far, but now the time has come to differentiate between peaceful democratic protest and civil disobedience,” the interior minister said in an official statement.

Sources close to JI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz revealed that during Monday's meeting between Nisar and the JI chief at Punjab House in Islamabad, the latter assured the interior minister that his party will not be part of the PTI’s protest on December 18.

“There is no room for any protest, which blocks roads and closes business, in any democratic country across the world. No one is allowed to paralyze lives of ordinary citizens, anywhere,” Nisar said in his statement.

The minister further said that political leaders should not just advocate the spirit of democracy and law in speeches, but it must reflect in their actions as well. All political parties have to sit together in order to achieve the political stability in the country, he added.

According to sources, the interior minister, following directions by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, requested the JI chief to convince Imran Khan to call off his countrywide protest on December 18.

“If any particular party has some reservations, then they have the right to plead their case before a court of law. PML-N is available for any support and co-operation, which results into country’s progression and helps in peace,” said Nisar in his statement.

Haq assured the interior minister that in his upcoming meeting with the PTI Chief, likely be held on Wednesday, he will try to convince him to cancel his protests for better political stability.

COMMENTS (20)

Abdul Qayyum | 10 years ago | Reply

PTI anarchists should be taught a lesson. They are destroying the economy of Pakistan.

Birds Eye View | 10 years ago | Reply

PML may be bad. PPP is probably worse. But PTI has convincingly proved that it is no better or worse than the others. In fact having no stake in the system and having no grass roots support, evident by its abject failure or interest in holding local bodies polls in KPK, it is the most dangerous threat to the integrity of Pakistan right now. The seeds of hatred that it has sown with the divisive politics it has promoted will ensure that the curse of anarchy will consume him as well, whether in KPK, or God forbid, if he is able to get into federal government, through a backdoor. 1971 appears to be getting repeated all over again.

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