- Govt decides to keep PTI activist away from Red Zone on 30th
The government has decided in principle to not allow the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters to cross into capital’s Red Zone on November 30 as the Interior Ministry has decided to seek reserve force from the Punjab government and other provinces, Pakistan Today has learnt.
A source in the government said that the decision was taken during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
“During the meeting, overall security situation was discussed with a special focus over the PTI’s rally on Nov 30. It was noted with great concern that the PTI leadership was reluctant to share their plan of action with the local administration of Islamabad. Despite repeated efforts made by the officials, no PTI leader had responded or sought permission to hold the rally,” the source said.
The source added that the government had decided that it would not allow any individual or party to derail the current development process.
“The meeting decided that stern action will be taken against those challenging the writ of the state. However, if PTI leadership sought permission, the ICT administration may allocate a special place in the federal capital to the protesters to mark their protests as the government fully believed in freedom of speech,” the source added.
Moreover, the interior minister briefed the meeting on the overall security situation and the government’s strategy to deal with the situation, the source said, adding that the prime minister directed the interior minister to take adequate measures to ensure the protection of the protesters as well as taking steps to ensure that the routine life of the capital residents is not disturbed.
Referring to the events which followed PTI’s recent protest in Red Zone, the official said that the protesters were allowed to hold demonstration inside the Red Zone but they later had not only captured the sensitive installations but had also paralysed life across the Red Zone.
“This time around however no repeat of such a situation would be allowed and the government would make its presence feel. The police would be given a free hand to deal with the protesters as per law,” the source said, adding that the Interior Ministry had already summoned reserve police and para military forces from all provinces and federating units including AJK and GB.
“The PM had to announce these stern handling of PTI protest in his address to the nation on Monday but later the address to nation was cancelled due to some proposal from the party cadre.”