Khan and Qadri likely to be put under house arrest

• Govt fears if Khan, Qadri go for joint march, situation will get too hot to handle
• Decides to stop live coverage of protests to avert possible terror attack

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership have advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to put Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri under house arrest while Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) may also be forced to stop broadcasting live television coverage of protests, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Well informed sources in the ruling party said that during hours-long meetings held on Monday, the PML-N leadership mulled over different options to deal with PTI’s ‘Azadi March’ and PAT’s ‘Inqilabi March’.

“We are left with no option but to put Khan and Qadri under house arrest to avoid further chaos and anarchy across the country,” the source added.

The source said that it was also proposed during the meeting that the government should not allow Khan and Qadri to go for a joint march plan as this cause the situation to go out of hand anytime.

“We have learnt a lot over the past few days during our efforts to confine PAT marchers. So we have proposed to the premier that if we are able to confine Khan and Qadri to their houses, we may have a better option to deal with their protesters.”

Lending credence to the source’s claim, the Punjab government late on Monday night started placing containers near the house of the PTI chief, who arrived in Lahore on Monday evening to lead the Azadi March to Islamabad on Independence Day.

According to the source, the prime minister was also advised to ask PEMRA to stop live coverage of the protests as “live coverage may result in terror attack against the protesting people”.

“With the Army busy fighting terrorists in the country’s north-west, we cannot allow public rallies in urban centers as the terrorists may hit back anytime.

The source ruled out the possibility of allowing any of party to conduct long march on August 14.

“Permitting PTI or PAT leaders to hold long marches against an elected prime minister is not an option for the government. Nowhere in the world can the governments afford such risks,” he said.

WHAT EXPERT SAY:

Under the Public Maintenance Order 1960, the government may put anyone under house arrest for at least six months to maintain law and order situation.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Justice (r) Tariq Chaudhry said, “Having served as a member of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), I think that Khan’s rigging allegations are very serious and they need a through probe by the government.”

He opined that Khan has a huge responsibility due to his large public following. Stressing the need for immediate dialogue, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should show due responsibility and immediately contact Khan to resolve the political standoff.”

Chaudhry opined that detaining Khan may further jeopardize the law and order situation.

“Any unwise decision by either side may incite the army to intervene, which would then implement its own agenda.”

He said that Khan should use political pressure to bring in political reforms, adding that all parties will support any such bid. He said that mid-term elections should also be discussed during the talks “otherwise there is no way forward”.

He said Khan should know that no one could be punished under Article 6 of the Constitution for poll rigging as law does not permit it and said, “Even if Sharif resigns, who will reform the electoral system? Who would hold those accountable for alleged rigging?”

Chaudhry said Dr Qadri has violated laws by making provocative speeches. “He should be asked whether he could make any such speech in Canada or UK,” he said, adding that Khan should detach himself from Qadri.