Section 144 to be imposed in Punjab \u2018immediately\u2019: Tarar
\nNews Desk
\nISLAMABAD
\nThe federal cabinet has decided not to let PTI go ahead with its long march in order to avoid the spread of \u201cfitna\u201d and \u201cfasad\u201d, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced Tuesday, saying PTI\u2019s long march is not democratic.
\nAddressing a press conference flanked by the leaders of coalition parties, Rana Sanaullah said that the participants of the long march will be stopped.
\nKeeping the current political situation and PTI\u2019s 2014 long march in view, he said the federal cabinet has decided they will not allow PTI to spread \u201cfitna\u201d and \u201cfasad\u201d in the name of a \u201cdemocratic long march.\u201d
\n\u201cThe decision has been taken to stop them from spreading their agenda of manipulation and division,\u201d the interior minister said, adding that these people [PTI leadership] have moved from \u201cabuses to bullets\u201d.
\nThe minister was referring to constable Kamal Ahmad, who was gunned down last night during a police raid at a PTI leader\u2019s house in Lahore\u2019s Model Town.
\nSanaullah claimed that the PTI leadership has disappeared from their residences and has gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that they [PTI leadership] are planning to use the province\u2019s resources and personnel to \u201ccome and attack the federation\u201d.
\n\u201cThey want to come as a mob that has no legal or constitutional status\u2026this cannot be allowed.\u201d
\nThe interior minister said that former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan wanted to divide the nation. Warning the PTI supporters, he said: \u201cDon\u2019t be misled by Imran Khan. He directed his party members during rallies to call people from other parties robbers and traitors. This is how he wants to spread chaos and disorder.\u201d
\n\u201cEverybody has the right of freedom of expression and peaceful protest; however, the PTI did not want a peaceful protest,\u201d he said, adding that if they hadn\u2019t called it a \u201cbloody march\u201d, the government wouldn\u2019t have stopped them.
\nThe interior minister said that the protection of the lives and properties of the capital\u2019s people is the responsibility of the government and it will fulfil its duties \u201cat all costs\u201d.
\n\u2018Situation to stabilise by tomorrow evening\u2019
\nThe interior minister warned that if deemed necessary, a public holiday will be announced in Islamabad tomorrow. \u201cImran Khan and his members must be arrested,\u201d Sanaullah said, asserting that if given a chance, they will be taken into custody.
\nThe interior minister said: \u201cI can assure the people that the situation will return to normal by tomorrow evening.\u201d
\nRegarding the news of calling the army for the security of the Red Zone, he said that rangers and the army will be summoned if the Islamabad district administration requests.
\nGovt calls in Pakistan Army
\nEarlier today, sources said the interior minister had summoned the Pakistan Army for the security of the Red Zone in Islamabad, Geo News reported Tuesday, citing sources.
\nAccording to the sources, army personnel will be stationed at PM House and PM Office, the Supreme Court and other sensitive government buildings in the area.
\nRead more: Fawad Chaudhry warns govt against using force to stop PTI\u2019s \u2018Azadi March\u2019
\nAll security arrangements will be handed over to the army, the sources said.
\nSection 144 has also been imposed in the federal capital for two months. According to a notification, the restrictions have been extended up to one kilometre of the Red Zone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Section 144 to be imposed in Punjab \u2018immediately\u2019: Tarar News Desk ISLAMABAD The federal cabinet has decided not to let PTI go ahead with its long march in order to avoid the spread of \u201cfitna\u201d and \u201cfasad\u201d, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced Tuesday, saying PTI\u2019s long march is not democratic. Addressing a press conference flanked […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262440,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1296,158,1446],"class_list":{"0":"post-262426","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-long-march","9":"tag-pti","10":"tag-rana-sanaullah"},"yoast_head":"\n