ISLAMABAD: Days before the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf holds a ‘decisive protest’ in Islamabad, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan confirmed that the military has been withdrawn from key buildings and installations in the capital.

Talking to reporters at the Punjab House on Wednesday, Chaudhry Nisar said the decision to withdraw military personnel was taken by his ministry because there were no more threats to the buildings, but added that they could be called back on short notice if the need arose.

He said that his ministry could summon the army in aid of civil power, under Article 245 of the Constitution and that the army had not expressed any reservations over such a requisition.

Imran says he doesn’t need a govt certificate to protest

These remarks came as the government prepared a strategy to deal with the PTI’s Nov 30 demonstration in the capital. Sources suggest that the government is mulling the promulgation of an ordinance which outlaws protests inside the Red Zone, now being designated a ‘high-security zone’.

The minister clearly indicated that this time the PTI would not be allowed to protest inside the Red Zone. He said the district administration would be in touch with the protesting party over the next few days to settle on a venue for the gathering and sort out other details. He said the government would seek a guarantee from the party that it would “abide by the rules”.

In case violence breaks out, the government will not budge an inch from the ‘legal path’, he said.

He said attempts to blackmail the government should end now, adding that, “something akin to terrorism is going on near the Red Zone”.

The PTI should either follow the law or face it, he said, adding that the party would have to seek permission for its planned activity in the capital and share a clear agenda with the district administration. “If they have plans for a political activity, they will be provided security. But if their purpose is to attack the government, the law will come into action,” he warned. He said the government had never blocked any political activities in the past and it won’t do so now.

He insisted that the courts and police would decide whether to arrest PTI chief Imran Khan and categorically ruled out talks with the party in the circumstances, saying “We will see after Nov 30”.

He also criticised the PTI for silencing those who dared to differ with the party. “They call those who have a difference of opinion ‘thieves’ and if dissent comes from within the party, those people are thrown out of the party,” he remarked, referring to the unceremonious ouster of Javed Hashmi and KP MPA Javed Nasim. The minister said it was not appropriate to ignore the constitution and try enforcing one’s own version of law. If the slogans of ‘go, go’ could bring the change, why the slogans chanted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were ignored, he asked.

Imran Khan responds

Responding directly to Chaudhry Nisar’s press talk, Imran Khan told supporters at D-Chowk on Wednesday that they did not need a certificate from the interior minister to hold a peaceful rally.

Mr Khan also warned the government against using force against his party on Nov 30. He said that his people would “retaliate if the government uses containers (to block their path) or takes police action”.

Unveiling his plans for the rally on Nov 30, the PTI chief said that they would gather at Constitution Avenue the day before for celebrations. “On Nov 30, an important announcement would be made and style of our demonstrations would also change,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2014