LAHORE: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday dropped a hint of return of party chief Nawaz Sharif next year before general elections and said the PML-N leadership had requested him to be present to lead the party’s election campaign next year.
Addressing a press conference here, Sanaullah said Nawaz Sharif was the party leader and the PML-N could not impose any decision on him, but it had requested him to be present to lead the party’s election campaign next year.
“He has accepted this and … whenever elections happen, Nawaz Sharif will be back in Pakistan before that,” he added.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan was only trying to push the country towards chaos, adding that it was condemnable.
Regarding reports of the government adopting a strict approach towards the PTI, the interior minister questioned the gathered media representatives that if a party said it was marching on to Islamabad then what other response it could be given.
He said that if an “armed gang” came then it was obvious that law enforcement agencies would have to act and stop any such attempt.
“If he comes with the aim to protest, I am saying this on record, we will give them the place, give them security and even food. But if they want to trample over the state or head towards the Red Zone, then it is our constitutional responsibility to stop such people.”
He said that it would be the government’s attempt that “any power that used is done so carefully” to keep losses to a minimum.
The interior minister also assailed the PTI government’s economic performance and blamed it for the current issues in the country. He added that the results of the PTI’s tenure were now coming to the fore and “exposing” the party.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police has said that on the interior minister’s instructions an important meeting was held to devise a plan for the PTI rally.
The meeting decided that any required number of Frontier Constabulary personnel would be provided and also instructed officers to prepare for dealing with any law and order situation in accordance with the law.
Islamabad Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan said that the police would not allow anyone to disturb peace and order in the city and would take all necessary measures to protect the life and property of citizens.
