Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is creating hurdles in the federal government’s efforts against terrorism, while governor’s rule, emergency and negotiations are on the table. He said that if PTI comes to Islamabad on October 4, an emergency may be imposed.
He added that if PTI delays its long march further, different constitutional options will have to be used, and whatever use of force is required will be made. He also said that Sohail Afridi was doing everything that amounted to incompetence.
Speaking on SAMAA TV’s programme “Nadeem Malik Live,” Rana Sanaullah said law enforcement agencies and civilians were being affected by terrorism in KP. He said terrorists were infiltrating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Afghanistan and were attempting to reach Lahore and Karachi. He added that the KP government was not fulfilling its responsibility regarding law and order.
Rana Sanaullah said the KP government was creating obstacles to the federal government’s counterterrorism measures and that the provincial government’s narrative was against the federal government. He said the KP government had announced the long march to create further complications and difficulties for the federation. He added that governor’s rule, emergency and negotiations were on the table.
He said the government was not asking PTI to change its political thinking or political demands but wanted the party to stand with Pakistan and condemn terrorism.
He said the Balochistan government was fighting terrorism and that, apart from the release of the PTI founder, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had no other demand. He said the PTI founder’s release had to come through the courts and that no effort was being spared in arranging his treatment.
He added that the PTI founder himself could not have arranged better treatment for himself. According to him, preparations for the long march had been underway for the past two months, and the KP government had done no other work apart from preparing for the march.
He said Sohail Afridi claimed that PTI was peaceful and would stop wherever it was stopped. Rana Sanaullah said that if PTI used force, the state would also use force. He said that if PTI came to Islamabad on October 4, an emergency could be imposed.
Rana Sanaullah called on PTI to postpone the long march, saying that talks were being discussed. He said the prime minister had written a letter to the opposition leader inviting him for a meeting.
He suggested that PTI should meet the prime minister the following day and that Barrister Gohar should also accompany the opposition leader, saying his presence would be better.
The prime minister’s adviser said that if PTI delayed the long march further, different constitutional options would have to be used.
He said the PTI founder had never been willing to sit with political parties and was still not ready for negotiations. He added that if PTI held talks, it would do so without the founder’s permission.
Rana Sanaullah said the Constitution and law did not permit a long march and that permission would not be given to surround Islamabad. He said whatever use of force was required would be made, adding that a final decision on all options would be taken after the prime minister’s return.
Rana Sanaullah said a meeting would be held at the prime minister’s level and suggested that if PTI wanted to protest, it should do so in Peshawar and Mardan. He said the prime minister had written to the opposition inviting it for talks.
He added that if the government was not run according to the Constitution and law, the chief minister would be responsible, and alleged that Sohail Afridi was doing everything that amounted to incompetence.
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