PPP leader urges govt, PTI to show restraint ahead of protest

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Nasir Hussain Shah on Monday called for restraint and understanding amid tensions over PTI’s planned protest in Islamabad, urging both the opposition party and government to show flexibility.

“Given the current situation, we should act with understanding and mutual respect,” Shah said during Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk”, adding that PTI should demonstrate restraint while the government would also have to show flexibility.

He said terrorism was also taking place in the country and that bringing workers together for a protest under such circumstances would put them in a difficult situation.

“Whatever movement PTI has launched has always been violent,” Shah mentioned.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar questioned the use of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law to restrict political activity.

“There is no justification for using the 3-MPO to stop political activities,” Zafar said, adding that senators and members of the National Assembly were being arrested while parliament remained silent.

Speaking about the planned protest, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said Islamabad could not be “handed over to a mob” regardless of whether a court order had been issued.

He said the government had provided PTI founder Imran Khan with medical treatment in accordance with a court order and had presented its position before the court regarding his possible transfer to hospital.

Chaudhry also rejected PTI’s claims about the number of arrests, saying the figure was not as high as being portrayed by the party.

Referring to PTI KP President Junaid Akbar’s statement about turning Islamabad into “ruins”, Chaudhry said the remark had effectively helped the government.

“Whatever little room there was, there will now be absolutely zero tolerance for allowing them to come to Islamabad,” he said.

Chaudhry further alleged that PTI leaders and lawmakers did not become targets during the party’s marches and that ordinary workers were instead “used as fodder”.