The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is crossing the borders, and if he crosses those lines in the future, authorities will take appropriate action. This, he said, is a warning he would issue to the Chief Cabinet’s Secretary, Home Minister Mr Mohsin Naqvi, during an interaction with journalists in Islamabad.
Firing on Police
Minister Naqvi reported that PTI supporters are shooting and shelling the police all the time. This was further aggravated when about 80 police officers sustained injuries following stone-throwing by PTI hooligans. He noted the intensity of the situation and asked what kind of a peaceful demonstration this was, which turned into violence against police officers.
Concerns About Tear Gas Deployment and Involvement Of Foreigners In The Protests
Naqvi also asked how and where these protesters obtained the gases, who participated in the protests, including Afghans, and where they procured the tear gas shells. Residents are protesting; why are Afghan citizens here?” Authorities have detained almost 120 Afghan citizens in the last 24 hours, raising deep concerns about their involvement in the protests.
He emphasized that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will take responsibility for the chaos and warned that there will be no mercy if any more boundaries are crossed.
Questions About the Protesters’ Purpose
The interior minister expressed doubts about the demonstrators’ purposes, saying, “They are not saying their actual intentions, and their purposes do not seem so.” He assured that they would take all the necessary measures to prevent any disturbances during the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Challenges to Engagement and Concerns for Violence
Senator Mohsin Naqvi also witnessed communication attempts directed at the protestors, whom he claimed appeared to have other sides to the coin. He showed that authorities instructed the citizens of Bannu to carry guns and warned that anyone encouraging disorder would face consequences. He stressed that there can be no talk with the people for whom violence has become a part of their campaign strategy.
Strategy for the Region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Regarding a question about the possibility of declaring an emergency in the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the interior minister replied that the President and Prime Minister are in touch and will deploy their strategy to manage the situation.
In conclusion, there has been concern with the prolonged tension between the government and PTI protesters. The interior minister spoke against the violence and raised questions about the participants’ passions. The situation remains fraught as the government readies measures to deal with the lingering protests while not compromising the region’s stability.
