Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has questioned who would guarantee peaceful conduct during the PTI-led mobilisation planned for Sept 27.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has questioned who would guarantee that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers would remain peaceful during the opposition’s planned mobilisation on Sept. 27, as the government voiced concerns over law and order.
Speaking during a television programme, Tarar said the PTI had a history of protests that, according to him, had involved violence. He alleged that attacks on government property, vandalism, violence and harassment had been associated with the party’s protests.
“The question is, who will guarantee that PTI workers will remain peaceful?” Tarar asked.
The minister said he believed the PTI would be better served by competing with the government on the basis of performance rather than organising protests.
His remarks came after opposition parties announced plans for a Sept. 27 mobilisation, with the government raising concerns about maintaining law and order during the political activity.
Tarar also referred to a recent incident in Kohat and said maintaining law and order was primarily the responsibility of the provincial government. He said law-enforcement agencies were engaged in countering terrorism while, at the same time, groups were preparing to take to the streets for political protests.
He maintained that, under court directives, one administrative unit could not organise an unlawful march against another administrative unit or against the federal government.
The federal minister also criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over its response to the situation in Kohat. He said that if he were the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he would have convened an emergency meeting on law and order without delay.
Tarar further said he would have visited the families of those killed in the Kohat incident and offered support to the bereaved families.
He said particular attention should be given to children who had lost their parents in the incident.
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