No-Confidence Motion: The Government To ‘Hand Over’ Parliament to Rangers

The administration has planned to “hand over” Parliament House, MNA Lodges, and the former MNA House to Rangers and the FC on the day the National Assembly votes on the no-confidence motion, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid reported on Friday.

“We have had a meeting and [agreed to] give over the Parliament House, MNA lodges, and old MNA House to Rangers and FC on the election day,” he stated while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.

The incident at the parliament lodges on Thursday prompted the interior minister to take this action. According to media sources, a dozen members of Ansar-ul-Islam — a volunteer group of JUI-F – and a handful of MNAs were detained. As part of their demand for the release of the employees, the JUI-F has called for roadblocks around the nation. Once they had submitted surety bonds and personal guarantees, they were freed from custody.

With the cooperation of the FC and Rangers, as well as the Islamabad police, the interior minister believes that any unpleasant events may be avoided in the city. Moreover, he has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and the inspector general to guarantee that the Ansarul Islam men reach Islamabad in uniforms. He went on to say that in Mardan and Nowshera; the administration has taken action.

“If any MNA requires protection, then please inform us and we are ready to offer security,” he added, “Later, do not blame the interior ministry if 12 of your MNAs are short.” According to the minister, there are no “falsehoods” in the FIR filed against the JUI-F volunteer force.

Fawad Chaudhry said that Fazlur Rehman was being used by former premier Nawaz Sharif and former president Hamid Karzai. He applauded the JUI-F chairman for rescinding the protest call he had made.

“He said that the opposition was trying to evade the no-confidence motion and destroy its own efforts. They want to create chaos in Islamabad,” he stated, and he advised the JUI-F leader to avoid enlisting members of religious groups in the demonstration.

“No one will be spared from the administration’s wrath if they attempt to enforce the law by force”. Rashid vowed to smash anyone who tried to take the law into their own hands “until I am interior minister,” and cautioned the opposition against causing any unrest.

While noting that “no MNAs were mentioned in the FIR,” he accused the JUI-F workers of the seizure of the parliament lodges’ main entrance. “I will not spare those who enter Islamabad dressed as militia,” he declared, adding that the government would not make an exception the next time.

The minister urged the opposition not to use militias to foment “terrorism.”

It was underlined by him that the opposition lacks 172 votes to pass a resolution of no confidence in the government.