September 27 Will Show How the State Establishes Its Writ, Talal Chaudhry
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has issued a warning over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) proposed march on Islamabad, saying that September 27 would show how the state establishes its writ.
Speaking on a television programme, Chaudhry said the government had full authority to take all necessary legal measures to maintain law and order and enforce the state’s writ during the PTI’s proposed march.
He said the government did not want to be forced to adopt a harsh approach toward PTI if it returned to Islamabad, but added that the situation on September 27 would make clear how the state responds if the law is violated.
Chaudhry said there would be no compromise on the security of the federal capital and warned that anyone attempting to take the law into their own hands would face the consequences of the state’s enforcement measures.
The minister also criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, alleging that the chief minister avoided attending important quarterly meetings chaired by the prime minister on counterterrorism, while approaching the federal government when seeking an increased share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and additional funds.
Chaudhry claimed that the PTI-led provincial government had so far received Rs700 billion under the NFC. He said it was the provincial government’s responsibility to provide a complete and transparent account of the funds received.
He urged the provincial government to focus on the proper utilisation of federal funds and public welfare instead of spending time and resources on political sit-ins, protests and preparations for long marches.
The remarks come amid preparations by PTI and allied opposition groups for a proposed September 27 march to Islamabad. PTI has described the planned mobilisation as a peaceful and constitutional political struggle.
