As the PTI gets ready to hold its “Azadi March,” the Ministry of Interior has stated that no political party can be allowed to destabilise the state through forceful measures such as a long march.
“It is imperative that federal and provincial governments act in unison and follow the constitutional provisions,” the ministry said in a letter sent on October 26 to all provincial governments, as well as the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has announced that the party will begin its long march at 11 a.m. from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk today and travel to Islamabad via several cities.
The government petitioned the Supreme Court to halt the march, citing a deterioration in law and order since the last time the party marched to the capital in May, when several people were killed and several others were injured.
Details indicate that the interior ministry wrote letters to all provincial governments as well as the governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
According to Article 148(1) of the Constitution, the executive authority of each province shall be exercised to ensure compliance with federal laws that apply in that province.
The letter also stated that it is “equally important to ensure that no government employee [is] allowed to join” the PTI’s protest and that any deviation from the constitution and laws would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The letter from the ministry was issued on the same day that PTI leader Faisal Vawda claimed that the long march would “see bloodshed, death, and funerals.”
However, the PTI leadership has dismissed the possibility of violence and reiterated that their march will be “peaceful.”
