Law Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan on Saturday claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had started its ‘Azadi’ march with only 2,000 people. He said Khan should also have called off his rally to avoid embarrassment.
“The government has given a free hand to PTI workers although Lahore High Court has ruled against an unconstitutional march and a sit-in Islamabad,” the minister told a press conference.
He asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan to review his demand for the prime minister’s resignation and dissolution of Parliament.The minister said the government had earlier anticipated that the PTI activists would stay in Islamabad for four days. “But given the poor public response, the PTI might not choose to stay in the capital for more than two days.”
He said Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri’s call for ‘Inqilab March’ had attracted nearly 8,000 party workers. He said Qadri had promised to remain peaceful.
He said Qadri and Khan were unable to agree on who should leave Lahore first.
“We had asked them to follow security procedures as there are threats of terrorist activity on GT Road”, he remarked.