How Will Federal Government Deal with PTI Long March If It Reaches Islamabad? Muneeb Farooq Asks
ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said the federal government will take all necessary measures to maintain the state’s writ and protect citizens if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march reaches Islamabad.
The minister was asked by journalist Muneeb Farooq during a television programme how the federal government would deal with the PTI if it came to Islamabad in the form of a long march.
Responding, Atta Tarar said that if the state’s writ and the protection of citizens required action, the government would take action. He said the government had taken an oath to protect its cities and citizens and would make all necessary arrangements for that purpose. His remarks were reported on September 24.
Atta Tarar questioned whether the government could give protesters a free hand by keeping all highways open when, according to him, previous protests had resulted in damage to public property. He referred to an earlier occasion when protesters allegedly set fire to a Metro facility and trees despite a Supreme Court direction concerning the protest.
The information minister further said that his remarks had the backing of the Ministry of Interior and that the interior minister would also support his position.
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Ihtikhar Wali Khan said the circumstances were appearing to meet what he described as grounds for considering Governor’s Rule or an emergency in the province.
پی ٹی آئی اگر لانگ مارچ کرکے اسلام آباد آئی تو وفاقی حکومت کیسے نمٹے گی؟
وفاقی وزیراطلاعات عطاء اللہ تارڑ کا پروگرام ہیڈ آن میں جواب
جب ریاست کی رٹ کی بات آئے گی، شہریوں کے تحفظ کی بات آئے گی تو انکا مکو ٹھپنا پڑا توٹھپیں گے، ہم نے حلف لیا ہے کہ اپنے شہروں اور شہریوں کومحفوظ… https://t.co/kkv6LbqpYn pic.twitter.com/Jnyy3kjGCu— Muneeb Farooq (@muneebfaruqpak) September 24, 2026
However, he said the government was democratic and would exercise patience, adding that Governor’s Rule would not be imposed unless political circumstances and demands within the province developed to that point.
Senior journalist Asma Shirazi, in her vlog, discussed Article 232 of the Constitution, which deals with the proclamation of emergency. She said the provision covers situations involving external aggression as well as internal disturbances.
Under the Constitution, where an emergency is sought on the ground of internal disturbance beyond the control of a provincial government, a resolution from the relevant Provincial Assembly is required. If the President acts on his own, the proclamation must be placed before both Houses of Parliament for approval within 10 days, under the framework introduced through the 18th Amendment.
خیبرپختونخواہ میں ایمرجنسی لگنے کے امکانات 70 فیصد سے زیادہ ہیں ایمرجنسی لگانے کے لیے دو شرائط ہیں ایک بیرونی جارحیت اور دوسرا اندرونی خلفشار دونوں شرائط پوری ہیں اندورنی خلفشار والی شرط لانگ مارچ کی صورت میں پوری ہو جائے گی ! عاصمہ شیرازی ۔۔ pic.twitter.com/4hIq65N0Gj
— AMJAD KHAN (@iAmjadKhann) September 24, 2026
Shirazi said the current political and security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being discussed in the context of these constitutional provisions. She stressed that her comments were a description of the constitutional and political situation rather than an expression of personal preference.
The developments come as the PTI prepares for its announced September 27 protest in Islamabad. The Islamabad High Court has previously directed chief ministers to ensure that provincial state machinery is not used for political protests and held that no political party or leader has a legal right to occupy roads, highways or other public places.
