Ahsan Iqbal dismisses any possibility of martial law

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Ahsan Iqbal dismisses any possibility of martial law

Dawn.com Published November 4, 2017

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday clarified that there was no possibility of a martial law being imposed on the country.

Talking to Geo News, Iqbal stated: "Imposing martial law would be equivalent to tearing the country apart, which is something that no patriot would ever want."

"The army has clearly stated that it supports the Constitution and democracy," the interior minister stressed. "A martial law will be devastating not only for the system but for the military as well."

Iqbal accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf of trying to sabotage the upcoming Senate elections.

"He [Imran Khan] is hoping for an early election, which is why he wants to create chaos so that he can mobilise people and get them to vote for him," he explained,

The interior minister was of the view that personal differences must be overcome in order to counter the "severe external challenges" that the country was facing.

"As the interior minister, I want to tell you that right now the country is facing serious external challenges, and in order to counter them we need to put our differences aside and avoid getting into internal conflicts.”

Iqbal said the incumbent government was aware that the sit-ins staged by the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek in 2014 were engineered by a "certain faction", however, Nawaz Sharif did not take legal action at that time because he wanted to follow a policy of reconciliation.

“It was Sharif's political wisdom that he preferred to maintain stability," Iqbal claimed, adding that any legal action at that time would have been "bad for the economy".

Iqbal insisted that the government's goal was to maintain "internal stability" in the country. He, however, said that the law enforcement agencies will arrest Imran Khan if it was ordered by the court.

He turned down the speculations that Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was going against the PML-N and repeated the party's stance that the former interior minister was only giving his personal opinion.

Referring to the recent controversy surrounding the Election Bill 2017 — that allowed a disqualified person to head a political party — Iqbal said that only the party members had the right to elect their leader.

He went on to say that though the PML-N has accepted the Supreme Court's decision, it did not consider it as fair.

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Sadiq

Nov 04, 2017 11:53pm

This talk itself give fear among Masses about military takeover

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Fahim khan

Nov 05, 2017 12:00am

What is your job other than press conferences and interviews?

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Moiz Marvi

Nov 05, 2017 12:13am

I dismiss the views of our interior minister, if the NAB is stopped from doing its work, martial law will be welcomed.

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W.M

Nov 05, 2017 12:14am

Welcome to marshala

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Nauman M

Nov 05, 2017 12:18am

With that assurance, it is nice for PML-N to feel carefree and not worry at all.

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Wahab

Nov 05, 2017 12:24am

Proud to be a Pakistani

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Imran Bhatti

Nov 05, 2017 12:26am

I thought he is a man of integrity but he proved to ge a man of loyalty. Loyal to a disqualified person not to state of Pakistan

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AHAQ

Nov 05, 2017 12:42am

Mr. Ahsan, what you are saying is well known for the last few weeks. Do you have anything new to tell? You should be commenting on what your ministry has done for the good of people and country since you took over in this positions and what are your goals are, instead of talking about matters irrelevant to discuss. The main issue is upholding the law above all, and not party favors and politics of PML-N, that you are trying to protect, at all costs of low security and disorderly conduct ,at the accountability courts, by PML-N people.

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Naseem Altaf

Nov 05, 2017 12:51am

Martial Law. Have we. Not learnt our lessons from 1971 ?

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Mian

Nov 05, 2017 12:54am

Why these patwaris are diverting people's focus towards non issues? Please focus on your work. we the poor people of Pakistan did not elect you to do media talks all the time. There should be at least a glimpse of professionalism in government officials but ....our luck.

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M Riaz Malik

Nov 05, 2017 01:01am

it is sad that our politations judge others on their level. "they don't say what thyey mean and they mean what they say"

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Malik

Nov 05, 2017 01:30am

No country in the world allows a disqualified person to become a leader of a political party. Period!

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Gerry dcunha

Nov 05, 2017 01:32am

Martial law is the only solution to get the country out of these crises or else the country and people will suffer at the hands of these so called corrupt politicians.

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Nov 05, 2017 01:46am

BTW who will impose martial law? it is not civilian govt sir

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Samuel Timithy

Nov 05, 2017 02:00am

Don't you think we have had more than our share of the Khaki there as a Head? Each time there has been a Martial Law; the country has gone down a few rungs. Have you noticed . this same format of Pakistani then begins to feel way above he average Pakistani; not decked in a uniform

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Nov 05, 2017 02:01am

It is high time that the present Pakistani government talks about social, educational and economic development. Investing in infrastructural development is OK but it should not be dependent on foreign aid, with "invisible" strings attached!

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Javed

Nov 05, 2017 02:09am

The armed forces of Pakistan have clearly stated that they are not interested in interrupting the political process and the whole nation is witness that minus Ch. Nisar most of your cohorts are desperate for something, anything.

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Tabassum

Nov 05, 2017 03:17am

Justice should be done in all fields of life.

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Nov 05, 2017 03:19am

As if they will consult, ask for permission or inform before booting you all out.

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JA-Australia

Nov 05, 2017 03:40am

Bad news for some in the media whose bread and butter is endless speculation about civil-military confrontation.

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Syed Ahmed, Canada

Nov 05, 2017 03:50am

The simpleton does not know that his party head desperately wants Martial Law to be imposed in the country. What is he talking about.

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Syed Tanwir Hasan

Nov 05, 2017 03:51am

No comments.

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Dada

Nov 05, 2017 03:56am

Why is martial law subject brought up every now and then. Is it because of Panama Papers? Don't think Pakistan's Democracy is that fragile to fall down due to corruption scandals. Politicians should stop bickering among themselves.

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Alla Bux

Nov 05, 2017 04:27am

Why do these ministers talk about things that do not concern them? It is COAS who will impose martial law if he wants. In any case he already covertly controls our Foreign Policy and budget. He does not need to do anything overt.

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LAHORI KID

Nov 05, 2017 04:46am

Any time the country is in a turmoil, usually because of the governments, in our case,how PPP and then PML-N have governed, how so many have corruption cases against them, every patriot would want the military to intervene, I don't believe its time yet, but if these civilian political parties don't get their act together, it may be necessary. Someone has to save the country, not only from foreign, but also domestic

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Salman

Nov 05, 2017 05:00am

though the PML-N has accepted the Supreme Court's decision, it did not consider it as fair. Obviously Ahsan, himself an iqama holder, would say that!

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Rana TUNGA

Nov 05, 2017 05:14am

You all in PML(N) are a bunch of corrupt people. The 5 judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan have given a judgement in the PANAMA case that Nawaz Sharif is corrupt and is not fit to be the Prime Minister or even an MNA. By not accepting the judgement of the Supreme court of Pakistan, you are violating the Constitution and you need to be sent to jail. Now grow up.

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Javed Arshad

Nov 05, 2017 06:18am

If govt starts behaving, focus on what they are elected for and let the courts do their job, accept the verdict if someone is found guilty, there will be no martial law. Unfortunately we find all govt officials doing exactly the opposite implying as if they want the martial law since their leadership is stuck caught red handed.

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Syed

Nov 05, 2017 06:19am

The present government is the most incompetent government in the History of Pakistan. The presence of this government is bringing Pakistan to the verge of destruction with every passing day better to have early election or system be wind up and be replaced with the interim technocrats government whose top most job is to get rid of Godfather and its forces ASAP, put the country on the right track.

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Jawaid

Nov 05, 2017 08:06am

Government must show courage, competence and pass legislation that shall allow taking strict and swift action against those who tarnish the dignity of people by hurling baseless allegations out of mischief and fool people by false statics and claims. This is necessary to bring stability in governance and enable the country to grow economically.

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My Advice

Nov 05, 2017 08:09am

No need for martial-law. By there is urgent need of trustworthy, intelligent, capable and hardworking political leaders.

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Tamza

Nov 05, 2017 09:22am

‘Famous last words ... ‘ perhaps. Challenging ‘fate’.

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Amjad Durrani Engineer- USA

Nov 05, 2017 10:00am

@Fahim khan I fully agree with you. There are real issues of providing security to common man which needs lot of hard work and forward looking. I do not comprehend that why these no issues are propagated for no rhyme or reason.

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fRedindian

Nov 05, 2017 08:43pm

Inshallah, We will have a new dictatorship soon!

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Taj M. Wazir

Nov 06, 2017 11:27am

Don’t be so sure Mr. Iqbal since country is running by corrupt politicians and idiots like you and many more where you come.

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