Islamabad-It appears there’s a standoff between the government and PTI, with Naqvi denying any negotiations and Imran Khan claiming an offer was made ¹. The situation remains tense, with Punjab vowing to treat November 24 protesters as ‘terrorists. Shortly after after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan confirmed receiving an offer from the government to postpone Islamabad protest, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denied holding negotiations with the former ruling party.
“No talks are taking place as negotiations are not held under threats,” said the interior minister while speaking to media persons on Thursday after attending a Islamabad High Court (IHC) hearing regarding the PTI protest.
Naqvi said that he was in favour of talks, however, holding talks after giving threats is not possible.
The development comes after the former prime minister said he had received an “offer” via top party leaders to postpone his much-hyped Islamabad protest, slated for November 24.
The PTI founder said that he was told “everything will be alright” if he accepted the offer. “[I] received an offer via Barrister Gohar and [KP CM] Gandapur to postpone the protest and everything will be alright,” he said.
“No negotiations are taking place with the PTI founder,” the interior minister said, adding that the PTI should inform us if it wants to hold talks.
However, he added, the negotiations were not possible with the PTI if it announced staging sit-ins.
“The nation should decide on the protests because why do they hold protests on specific dates?” he asked referring to the upcoming visit of foreign delegates.
Naqvi further said that whatever the court orders, they will implement it.
The security czar warned the PTI supporters against gathering at D-Chowk in the federal capital, saying the authorities would detain the violators like before.
“Protest in your province as you wish, you will not be allowed to come to Islamabad and protest,” he added.
The interior minister earlier attended a court hearing at the IHC on the petition filed by the Traders Association President Asad Aziz regarding the PTI protests, saying their business was being affected.
During the hearing, Naqvi apprised the court that Belarus’ head of state along with his 65-member delegation will be visiting the country on November 24, hence, they will have to secure the Red Zone.
“They select those days for protests when a delegation visits the country,” Naqvi told the court.
The Islamabad chief justice said that blocking the roads by placing containers or shutting down the internet is not a solution to the problem.
To this, Naqvi said he was also completely against placing containers.
While,
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says it is not possible for PTI founder Imran Khan to get relief at this time.
He was talking to journalists in the Parliament House on Thursday.
“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is trying hard to get a safe exit from its Nov 24 protest call,” senior PML-N leader said.
He added that political and military leadership were working together for the development of the country.
According to defence minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is in contact with the establishment from the day one.
“CM Gandapur is in continuous contact with the establishment with the consent of Imran Khan,” said the veteran politician.
Khawaja Asif said that no one would be allowed to launch an attack on the federation.
He added that PTI founder is an agent of Jewish lobby.
The defence minister was of the view that armed forces were rendering sacrifices for our safety.
Earlier, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser outlined the PTI’s strategy for the November 24 protest.
Speaking to media in Swabi, Asad Qaiser stated that the party has formulated a strategy for the protest.
Political workers from Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, and Nowshera will travel to Islamabad from Swabi, while workers from other districts will march towards Islamabad via different routes.
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