Daily Times

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has lauded his party’s supporters in Islamabad and D-Chowk, urging them to remain steadfast in their protests until their demands are met.

However, the government has firmly rejected any possibility of negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters, escalating tensions following days of demonstrations in Islamabad as the government reportedly called army into the capital for security.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Atta Tarar held a joint press conference on Tuesday, stating that the protesters, who had gathered at D-Chowk, had been pushed back and the area was cleared. The ministers stressed that no discussions would take place with the demonstrators. The interior minister maintained that no negotiations would be held with the protesters, asserting that “now that they have come and seen the situation, there is no possibility of talks. The government has made a clear decision that there will be no negotiations with those on the sit-in.”

“We saw the type of people who came in these protest caravans,” he remarked. “Their goal was to provoke violence and create martyrs, but we managed to clear the area without any loss of life,” he added.

He also referred to Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, as being responsible for instigating the unrest. “The person responsible for the loss of life and property is one woman,” Naqvi said, without explicitly naming Bibi, adding that the authorities would “deal with her accordingly.”

Earlier in the day, Naqvi stated that the root cause of unrest lies in a “hidden hand.” He explained that while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership does not seek bloodshed and prefers dialogue, this covert force holds significant sway.

“I don’t know when this hidden hand will take over the party; its intentions are different, and PTI is unaware that it is being deceived,” he said Information Minister Atta Tarar joined Naqvi in condemning the protesters, accusing PTI of using children as human shields and attempting to stir violence.

During the press conference, he displayed marbles and shells used by the protesters to attack law enforcement, further highlighting the escalating nature of the protests. He said, “Today, we dealt with them, and we have pushed them two roundabouts back. No one can free anyone by force here.”

The minister also accused PTI of orchestrating the protest with the help of foreign elements, claiming that Afghan nationals had been recruited to join the demonstration. He specifically named a “daily wage worker from Swat” and a 16-year-old Afghan boy as examples of foreign participation.

In a direct challenge to PTI and Bushra Bibi, Tarar demanded that she bring forward her family members, including her sons Qasim and Suleman, for further confrontation.

Tarar warned against testing the state’s patience, accusing Bushra Bibi of seeking to take “blood and bodies” in her pursuit of political goals. “She should have the courage to lead from the front. We are still standing at D-Chowk,” he added.

The information minister stated that while firing a gun may seem easy, the government would not allow protesters to receive the deaths they were seeking. “We will not give them martyrs,” he said. “Let’s find out whose hands are stained with the blood of the police and Rangers martyrs.”

He concluded by daring the PTI protesters to advance, stating, “Come forward, we are ready. Anyone who tries to come here will face a strong response.”

This comes after Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s adviser on information, said that Imran Khan had agreed to the government’s suggested proposal to move the venue of the party’s much-touted power show from Islamabad’s D-Chowk to the sub-urban areas but his wife, Bushra Bibi, and the party had refused the suggestion.

Meanwhile, the PTI shared a video on X of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur addressing protesters while leading a convoy towards D-Chowk. The post used a hashtag of “first release, then negotiations”.

Similarly, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told the media: “There is no hope of talks between the government and PTI yet. The government has not made any contact yet.”

Earlier, Bushra Bibi vowed to be the last woman standing at D-Chowk and said she would not leave without Imran, while addressing a large crowd of protesters at Blue Area alongside Gandapur and Ayub.

She lamented Imran’s treatment in both Attock and Adiala Jail, questioning how an ex-premier could be treated the way he had been. “Khan is standing because of you and will continue standing for you, and you must promise that until Khan is with us, you will not leave D-Chowk.

“I promise that I will be the last woman here, I will not leave D-Chowk without him. If anyone tells you otherwise, it is a lie,” she said to cheers from the crowd.

“Muslims don’t hit other Muslims, so then why are you shelling us?” she questioned.

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court on Tuesday extended physical remand of Imran Khan by six days in the case related to inciting workers to violence.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah directed the authorities to produce the former prime minister before the court on Dec 2.

Also, the district administrations have said that educational institutes in twin cities will remain closed today.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers of three Rangers officials, who embraced Shahadat during the ongoing protest, were offered at Chaklala Garrison, on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, NI(M), senior serving military and civil officials attended the funeral, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

“Pakistan cannot afford any chaos and bloodshed for achieving vested political purposes. These acts of violence are unacceptable and highly condemnable which are bordering the limits of restraint by the Law Enforcement Agencies. The entire nation pays homage to the martyred Rangers soldiers and all those police officials who have embraced shahadat and those who are injured during these riots”, the press release quoted the prime minister as saying.

Naik Muhammad Ramzan Shaheed (age; 47 years, resident of District Karak), Sepoy Gulfam Khan Shaheed (age; 29 years, resident of District Rawalpindi) and Sepoy Shah Nawaz Shaheed (age; 33 years, resident of District Sibi) had embraced shahadat during yesterday’s incident.

The bodies of Shuhada had been taken to their native hometowns where they would be laid to rest with full military honour.