Daily Times

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has vowed to press ahead with the planned power show in Islamabad today (Sunday) despite the IHC order against all kinds of protests.

Speaking to a private TV channe,, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has aid that a “final call” meant a final call and only Imran Khan could review the decision.

“Khan sahib is Khan sahib. He is the boss. He doesn’t recommend. He orders, we follow.” He said Imran had given the call for the protest, he had given the instructions and thus it was his decision to review it.

Gohar said the PTI’s political committee discussed everything as per Imran’s instructions and it was not its option to review something that the PTI founder ordered and give a contrary direction.

Regarding his earlier talks with Naqvi and media coverage of the development, Gohar said they only made contact once and no commitment was made of when the PTI chairman would inform the interior minister about his final response.

Regarding possible consequences of contravention of the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Thursday order, which had ruled the planned protest as unlawful, Gohar said the PTI was not heard in the case and said it was not the court’s final order but still a pending matter. According to Radio Pakistan, the interior minister contacted the PTI MNA in light of the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Thursday order, which had ruled the planned protest as unlawful.

The interior minister told Gohar about the IHC’s order, stating: “We are bound by the high court’s order and cannot permit any procession, sit-in or rally.”

Naqvi also briefed the PTI leader about the engagements of an 80-member high-level delegation led by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko from November 24 to 27, the report said.

He said the Belarusian president will arrive in Pakistan on Monday and the delegation will remain in Islamabad until Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in multiple press conferences throughout the day, government ministers warned the PTI against proceeding with its protest.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar declared that strict action would be taken against anyone participating in the protest, warning of arrests and legal consequences.

According to Radio Pakistan, Tarar said there was “no engagement with the PTI at any level”, clarifying that contact was made with Gohar “only once in compliance” with the IHC order.

He criticised the PTI for giving a protest call whenever a country wanted to invest in Pakistan, saying Belarus would collaborate with Pakistan for local manufacturing of tractors.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari highlighted that the IHC has “clearly ordered regarding protests to any political party”.

“If they knew how to do politics this would not be [a] problem. I wish Gandapur would go to Parachinar, [a] jirga could have been held,” she said, addressing a press conference in Lahore.

Meanwhile, it emerged that the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has issued a threat alert to authorities warning of a potential terrorist attack “in the big cities of Pakistan” by Fitna al Khawarij – the term used by authorities to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan terrorist group.

In July, the government, through an official notification, designated the banned TTP as Fitna al Khawarij, while mandating all institutions to use the term khariji (outcast) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

According to a Nacta threat alert dated November 21, the TTP is “planning to conduct major terrorist activities in big cities of Pakistan”. The alert warned that terrorist groups crossed over the Afghan border between Tuesday and Wednesday and were expected to position themselves in urban areas.

“Multiple sources have confirmed necessary preparations by Ks (Khawarij) in Afg (Afghanistan).

“Sources have confirmed that Fak (Fitna-al-Khawarij) elements are planning to conduct such activities in public/ political gatherings; most likely upcoming PTI protest/march as opportunity to exploit for their vested interest,” the alert reads.

Nacta advised that authorities maintain “extreme vigilance and heightened security measures are suggested to avoid any untoward incident”.

Ahead of the PTI’s protest, public gatherings have been banned across Punjab till Monday, in Rawalpindi till Tuesday, and in Islamabad for two more months.

The Islamabad police have devised a comprehensive security plan to counter the PTI protest, which includes blocking roads and key points with containers, deploying personnel, strike and arrest teams, and utilising digital surveillance.

Separately, the Ministry of Interior confirmed on Saturday that mobile data and internet services may be suspended in areas with heightened security concerns during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest.

In a statement, a ministry spokesperson clarified that the internet shutdown will be limited to specific high-risk areas, while the rest of the country will continue to have regular internet and mobile services.

The confirmation followed earlier reports suggesting a complete nationwide internet shutdown after midnight in anticipation of PTI’s planned protest. Sources indicated that Wi-Fi services might also be impacted, although mobile calling services would remain active and only be restricted if deemed necessary based on the security situation.

The Ministry reiterated that public safety remains a priority, with adjustments to services implemented as needed to address security threats.