ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid today said the government would not create hurdles in the way of PDM’s long-march in Islamabad on March 23.
If the long-march remained peaceful, government will not come in the way of the opposition parties march, he said.
The interior minister earlier urged the opposition to change its march date, saying leaders from different countries would be in the capital to attend an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on March 23 — also the Pakistan Day.
Meanwhile, chief of PDM Maulana Fazlur Rehman ignored the interior minister’s remarks and said the alliance would be moving forward with its plan to hold the “anti-inflation” march.
Addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi today, interior minister Sheikh Rashid said March 23 was very sensitive day and roads — and possibly cellular services as well — will be blocked for security reasons due to the arrival of foreign dignitaries for the OIC meeting.
“Come on [March] 23 and God willing you will face a political defeat along with humiliation,” Rashid said while addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi today.
Minister questioned the purpose of the opposition’s march, wondering if there was some reason or agenda behind it.
He asserted that the march would not see much public participation, asking what participation levels the “tractor trolley” had seen, apparently referring to the PPP’s tractor march on Monday.
Interior Minister criticised the opposition’s inability to defeat the government on any motion or bill during its three and a half years in power so far.
“I kept saying to them [to change their date] for a month. If they think they are very intelligent, if they were actually intelligent then maybe we might have faced a legal threat from them today … now come on March 23 and be humiliated,” Rashid reiterated.
The interior minister also said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and the establishment enjoyed “very good relations”.
Speaking on other matters, he said the premier’s trip to China would yield “very good results”.
Rashid also refused to comment on a question about any presidential system or emergency being imposed, saying the matter had not been brought up in the cabinet.
