Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan recently revealed that the government offered him a chance to delay his planned protest in Islamabad. However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi quickly rejected this claim. Naqvi stated that there had been no negotiations with the former prime minister or his party.
The interior minister explained that the government does not engage in talks under threats. “There are no talks. Negotiations cannot happen when threats are involved,” Naqvi said while speaking to the press. He clarified that although he supports talks, they can’t take place if someone is using pressure tactics.
This statement came after Imran Khan shared details about the supposed offer. Khan claimed that senior party leaders, including Barrister Gohar and KP CM Gandapur, had asked him to delay the protest. He said they promised that “everything will be alright” if he agreed to postpone the demonstration.
Naqvi firmly denied these claims, saying no official discussions had occurred with PTI. He emphasized that if PTI was serious about negotiations, they should approach the government directly. However, he warned that talks would not be possible if PTI continued to announce plans for protests.
The interior minister also questioned why PTI chooses to protest on specific dates, especially when foreign delegations are visiting Pakistan. “The nation should decide when protests should happen,” he remarked, referencing the upcoming visit of Belarus’ president and his delegation.
Naqvi further stressed that the government would follow the court’s orders regarding the situation. He added a stern warning to PTI supporters planning to gather at D-Chowk, the heart of Islamabad. “Anyone attempting to protest in Islamabad will be detained, just like before,” he said.
In addition, the interior minister had attended a court hearing concerning a petition by the Traders Association President, Asad Aziz, who complained that PTI protests were harming local businesses. Naqvi told the court that security would be heightened around the Red Zone during the visit of the Belarusian delegation on November 24.
He also pointed out that PTI often schedules its protests to coincide with foreign visits, creating disruptions. The Islamabad High Court’s chief justice mentioned that blocking roads with containers or shutting down the internet is not a solution to the problem. In response, Naqvi said he agreed, emphasizing that he is opposed to using containers to block roads.
