ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday asked the chief secretaries of provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to ensure that no government official participates or becomes part of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) long march to the capital.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, a meeting was held in connection with the expected long march.

The meeting was presided over by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and attended by interior secretary, chief secretaries and police chiefs of all four provinces, GB and AJK besides the chief commissioner and IGP Islamabad.

The interior minister asked the chief secretaries to ensure that no government official became a part of any initiative or plans to ‘attack’ the federal capital.

Govt had reservations over officials participating in previous long march, minister says

“It was a duty of government officials to protect the state against any aggression,” he said, adding that the federal government is concerned over the participation of officials in the May 25 long march.

The resources and manpower demanded by the federal government should be provided, the minister said.

During the meeting, a strategy was reviewed to counter the possible long march of the PTI.

The participants assured the meeting that they would follow the Constitution and law in case of the long march. It is the constitutional responsibility of the provincial governments to stop the illegal move of the political party towards the federation, the minister said.

Chief secretaries and police chiefs of all four provinces, GB and AJK should ensure adherence to the Constitution and law, the minister said, adding that no political party, group or armed groups could be allowed to attack the Centre.

It may be mentioned that last week the ruling allies warned the provincial governments of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against becoming a part of the PTI long march towards the capital.

Sources in the interior ministry said officials and officers of the federal and provinces were being identified who either had a soft corner for the PTI, support or assist the political party in the long march and protest.

Traders, businessmen and others who were likely to support and assist the PTI financially and with resources are also being identified and in this regard details are be collected from different sources to take action against them, they added.

Meanwhile, containers put at D-Chowk were filled with sand on Tuesday. Officials of the police and administration said trucks filled with sand were brought to the chowk and the containers were filled with it.

They said containers were also being taken to different spots, including Zero Pont interchange.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2022