Situation in KP to Be Normalised as Soon as Possible, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Warns PTI Workers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said the government will restore normalcy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as soon as possible, warning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers gathered in the province to disperse or face strict action if arrested.

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, Naqvi said those currently gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should disperse, as they could no longer rely on the protection of the provincial government.

“Those who are arrested will be dealt with strictly, and they themselves will be responsible for the consequences,” the interior minister warned.

Commenting on the imposition of an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naqvi said the day had been difficult for the government. He claimed that for more than a month, the federal government had made sustained and sincere efforts to take the provincial government into confidence and secure its cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

He said several demands raised by those planning a long march had already been addressed before the march was announced. These included meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan, medical treatment and other related matters, which, according to him, were proceeding according to an agreed arrangement.

Naqvi added that even PTI leaders and workers had reportedly been unable to understand why the long march had been announced despite progress on these issues.

The interior minister said detailed negotiations with PTI leadership continued for two consecutive days, and he remained in contact with the party until 11:45pm the previous night.

He claimed that during the negotiations, PTI leader Asad Qaiser had assured the government that the party would not take even a single step back in the fight against terrorism.

According to Naqvi, the government had also incorporated five to six changes into the draft agreement at PTI’s request. However, he alleged that the party subsequently presented a different draft, creating further complications in the negotiations.

Naqvi further disclosed that several meetings had taken place with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He said he had made his final telephone call to the chief minister at around 11:45pm, urging him to seize the remaining opportunity to avert the worsening situation.

The minister said he had conveyed that developments had gone too far but that the government’s planned morning action could still be postponed through further engagement.

However, he claimed that no positive response had been received from the other side.

Naqvi maintained that, under the circumstances, the government had been left with no option but to take what he described as a constitutional step.

He reiterated that the federal government’s priority was to restore normalcy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and urged those gathered in the province to disperse, warning of strict consequences for those taken into custody.