Beware Khan! Govt won’t spare the rod this time

• PM Sharif says any violence during PTI’s Nov 30 rally will be dealt with under the law
• Info minister alleges PTI chief has ‘outsourced terrorist groups’ to spread fear amongst masses

The government has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan that the law will take its course if PTI and its allies attempt to spread violence and anarchy in the country.

As the Sharif brothers met in Raiwind Sunday, sources say that the two leaders exchanged views on arrangements made for PTI’s rally in Islamabad on November 30. They said that holding public meetings is part of democracy and no one objects over them but “no one would be allowed to damage public and private property”.

They said those indulging in violence would be dealt with under the law as it is responsibility of the government to protect the live and property of the people.

During the meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that those involved in sit-ins are enemies of economic development and prosperity of the country but the government would continue with its mission of service to the masses.

‘LAW WILL TAKE COURSE’:

Later on, addressing a press conference Sunday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid alleged that the PTI chief had outsourced some terrorist groups for the fulfilment of his designs, including “creating fear and panic among the people through acts of terror”.

He said that the government will not create any hurdle in the way of peaceful protest of PTI scheduled on November 30 in Islamabad. However, if participants turned violent, the law will take its course.

The PTI chief, said Rashid, had been continuously provoking people through his addresses since August 14, adding that Khan has the habit of criticising the government all the time.

The minister advised him to avoid politics of destabilising the country and instead play his due role in the parliament and work for the prosperity of the country. He said the government could deal with such “non-democratic and political aggression” in the same coin but it believes in democratic norms and exercised the policy of restraint, patience and peace.

Referring to Awami Mulsim League Chairman Sheikh Rasheed’s earlier statement from the PTI platform in Sahiwal wherein the PTI ally gave a call for anarchy in the country, the minister said, “If the AML chief’s speech is not in line with PTI’s policy then Khan should report the former for inciting the masses to resort to violence.”

“Khan has a dual personality. On one hand he asks his supporters to attack Parliament House and on the other hand asks for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation,” Rashid alleged.

The minister dispelled the impression of the government’s or Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) involvement in the firing incident in Jhelum on Sunday. He made it clear that the house where the incident occurred was located in a village which was not near the place of PTI’s public gathering. He added the police were investigating the case and those involved would be arrested.

‘KHAN ORDERED ATTCAK ON PTV HQ’:

The minister said that it had been proved that the attack on PTV Headquarters in Islamabad was carried out by PTI workers on Khan’s orders, adding that Khan should handover to the police all his party workers who had attacked PTV building.

Commenting on Khan’s statement that he was sleeping at the time of the attack, the minister said that footages were available which showed that the PTI chief was inciting his workers to attack the PM’s House.

“Khan, who is now absolving himself of the charge of involvement in the attack, had actually directed the workers to attack,” alleged Rashid.

Rashid said that after the attack on PTV HQ, the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leaders congratulated each other. He alleged that Khan has a soft corner for terrorists and does not want military action against them.

The minister said the sit-ins had exposed the real faces of both Khan and PAT head Dr Tahirul Qadri, who “abandoned the sit-in for renewal of his Canadian passport”.

To a query, the minister said the courts will decide Khan’s fate.

To another query, the minister said that the PTI chief had announced suspension of talks with the government. He said the government was always ready for talks with the protesting parties but the talks must be within the constitutional parameters.

The minister said that electoral reforms committee had been constituted while a letter had been written to the Supreme Court for forming a judicial commission to probe election rigging allegations levelled by PTI.

He said that PM Sharif had no power to open the four constituencies for probing fake votes as demanded by PTI. It was the domain of election tribunal to decide the matter, he added.