Govt to stop PTI's long march to Islamabad: Rana Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that the federal cabinet has decided to stop the PTI from holding a long march towards Islamabad to ensure the safety and security of the masses, ARY News reported.

He made the announcement while briefing media flanked by coalition partners about the decisions taken by the federal cabinet which met in Islamabad with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

“Federal cabinet has decided not to let PTI go ahead with its Islamabad long march in order to avoid the spread of fitna and fasad,” said Sanaullah, adding that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s long march is not “democratic”.

“No one has permission to dictate Islamabad,” he added.

He went on to say that maintaining law and order and ensuring security and protection of people’s lives, businesses, and properties is the top priority of the incumbent government and nobody would be allowed to harm Pakistan’s peace.

Police crackdown on PTI leaders

Police on late Monday night launched a crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership across Punjab ahead of “Azadi March” set to being on May 25 (tomorrow).

The raids were conducted at houses of different PTI leaders including former energy minister Hammad Azhar, Usman Dar, and Babar Awan, Senator Waleed Iqbal, Firdous Ashiq Awan and others.

CRACKDOWN ON PTI LEADERS TO PUSH COUNTRY INTO ANARCHY, WARNS IMRAN KHAN

The development comes hours after PTI’s Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference, warned the government against using force to stop the “Azadi March”, set to begin on May 25.

CRACKDOWN ON PTI LEADERS TO PUSH COUNTRY INTO ANARCHY, WARNS IMRAN KHAN

Raids were also conducted in Lahore, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Daska, Jaranwala, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Narowal, Kamalia, Pir Mahal, Rajanpur, Vehari, Khanpur, Sahiwal, Kabirwala, Sheikhupura, Mian Channo, Wazirabad and others areas for the arrest of PTI leaders and workers.

‘Crackdown to push country into anarchy’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday strongly condemned the raids on houses of the party leaders in Punjab, Islamabad and Karachi, saying a peaceful protest was the right of all citizens.

Taking to Twitter, the PTI chief said: “Peaceful protest is the right of all our citizens. The brutal crackdown on PTI leaders and workers in Punjab & Islamabad has once again shown us what we are familiar with – the fascist nature of PMLN when in power.

He further said that the present crackdown also raises serious questions about the “handlers”.

Section 144 imposed

Section 144 was imposed in Sindh, Punjab and Islamabad ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march towards the federal capital.

According to a notification issued by the Interior Ministry, Section 144 was imposed in Islamabad for a period of two months.

SECTION 144 IMPOSED IN PUNJAB, ISLAMABAD

Later in the day, PML-N Deputy Secretary-General Attaullah Tarar told a press conference that Section 144 was imposed in the province. “The govt took decision after consulting with its allies,” he told the media.

Meanwhile, the Sindh home department imposed Section 144 across the province for 30 days. The law bans the assembly of more than five people in public places. All political and religious congregations have been banned under section 144.