The government’s decision to disallow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s long march, due to take place tomorrow, was taken due to a police constable’s killing during a raid on the house of a PTI leader in Lahore.
The decision was taking during a PML-N political committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a few hours after a policeman was fatally shot while carrying out a raid at a PTI leader’s house.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah briefed the media on the law and order situation in the country, and said that in light of the martyrdom of the police constable some hours earlier, the government had decided to stop the long march from taking place.
The prime minister said that the tactics being employed by PTI are ruining the economy, and that he will not let them compromise the state’s writ, and will block every illegal move that the PTI attempts.
He also said that had the PTI really intended to have a peaceful protest, the government would have had no objections. “Had they not called it a bloody march and talked about spreading anarchy, we would not have stopped them,” he said.
“They want to come as a mob that has no legal or constitutional status, this cannot be allowed.”
Shortly after this meeting took place, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also called in the Pakistan Army for the security of the Red Zone in Islamabad.
Army personnel will also be stationed at the PM house and the PM Office, as well as the Supreme Court and other government buildings in the area.
