Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has permanently outlawed ‘riotous’ rallies and processions in Islamabad in light of the recent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march that resulted in clashes between protestors and the police, as well as multiple cases of arson.
The directives were issued in a meeting chaired by the interior minister today (Saturday) in Islamabad, where it was also decided that in the future, all parties interested in staging a rally in Islamabad would have to sign a written agreement with the government.
During the meeting, which was attended by police officials and senior interior ministry, it was discussed how Wednesday’s long march had resulted in the loss of lives and property, attacks on police officers and vehicles as well as the recovery of weapons from protestors.
The need for an effective strategy to prevent the possibility of violent riots and marches in the future was stressed upon, and the Islamabad administration was instructed to take actions to ensure that such riots were not recurrent in the future.
“Violence against police and law-enforcement personnel cannot be allowed,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said. “We cannot let miscreants hold the country hostage, therefore, in future, no riotous long march or procession will be allowed to enter Islamabad,” he added.
The meeting was also attended by the inspectors general of police for Punjab and Islamabad, as well the regional police officers of the Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura districts.
