Govt will respond to PTI protest after their preparations are complete: Naqvi
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, responded to various pressing issues during a press briefing on Friday, including the upcoming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest scheduled for August 5, the presence of Afghan nationals in Pakistan, and plans for tackling illegal housing societies in Islamabad.
Regarding the PTI's planned protest, he remarked, 'Let PTI complete their preparations first, and then we will take our own measures.' This statement comes in response to questions about the government's strategy to handle the PTI's call for a protest.
On the topic of Afghanistan, the interior minister emphasised Pakistan's ongoing diplomatic dialogue with the Islamic Emirate, acknowledging the importance of bilateral relations.
He also clarified Pakistan's stance on illegal foreign nationals residing within its borders, stating that no leniency would be shown towards anyone staying illegally, particularly Afghan nationals.
Also Read: Torrential rains claim six more lives in Punjab
"Afghan nationals illegally residing in Pakistan will not be given extensions," Naqvi affirmed, while noting that Iran had recently expelled 300,000 Afghan nationals in the past two weeks.
The minister further addressed concerns regarding the growing number of illegal housing societies in Islamabad. He announced that a large-scale operation against these unauthorised developments is underway, with 133 illegal housing societies currently under scrutiny.
Touching on other national issues, Naqvi shared that the Ministry of Interior is considering the appointment of a new officer to oversee the matters concerning armed institutions, but the final decision is yet to be made.
On the topic of environmental concerns, he warned about the potential threat of smog in Islamabad. He noted that the risk of smog returning to the capital in the coming years remains significant, and efforts are being made to increase green areas in the city to combat this issue.
Read More: COAS Asim Munir, Libyan army chief discuss defence ties
Regarding infrastructure, the minister pointed out that a road in the E-11 sector of Islamabad had been damaged due to excavation by the Sui Gas department, adding that the issue would be addressed soon.
He also briefly mentioned his remarks about the situation in Balochistan, clarifying that he was using the term "control" in a metaphorical sense when discussing law enforcement's role in combating terrorism in the province.
Lastly, Naqvi highlighted the role of Pakistan's leadership in preventing further escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict. "The prime minister and the army chief have played a key role in preventing the Iran-Israel war," he said.a
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Opposition slams ATC verdicts
A charged session unfolded in the Punjab Assembly as Opposition lawmakers lashed out at the government over what they termed "scripted" and "politically motivated" sentences awarded to PTI lawmakers, workers, and supporters by anti-terrorism courts in the May 9 cases. The session was chaired by Ghulam Raza, from the Panel of Chairmen. Deputy Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenuddin Riaz led the criticism, declaring that the ATC verdicts not only undermined justice but also deepened the political divide. "Try whatever you can, but you cannot erase Imran Khan from people's hearts," he said, accusing the government of prioritising political vendettas over pressing national issues like flood management. He further alleged that public funds were being spent on orchestrating cases against PTI members instead of addressing ground realities. In protest, the Opposition staged a token boycott of the proceedings, briefly exiting the House. Responding to the protest, PML-N's Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad condemned the PTI's stance, questioning their moral authority to speak of justice after the May 9 violence. He accused the Opposition of supporting sedition and undermining state institutions. Treasury MPA Amjad Ali Javed raised a separate issue, highlighting the misuse of Section 97-A of the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2016 by a traffic warden and a police official. He claimed the section had yet to be officially enforced and demanded action. The matter was referred to the relevant committee. Javed also urged the government to fulfill its 3% job quota for special persons, claiming implementation remains insufficient. In a similar vein, Treasury MPA Sohail Khan Zahid requested that agriculture taxes be waived in flood-hit areas. IPP's Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui called on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to address poor drainage conditions in Lahore's Railway Colony and adjacent areas following recent rains. Upon returning from their walkout, Opposition members attempted to resume speeches against the ATC sentences, but the chair did not grant permission. This led to further sloganeering from the Opposition benches. As tensions escalated, a lawmaker pointed out the lack of quorum. With insufficient members present to continue proceedings, the chair adjourned the session until 2:00pm on July 28.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Opposition slams govt over 'politically motivated' sentences in Punjab Assembly
Listen to article A charged session unfolded in the Punjab Assembly as opposition lawmakers lashed out at the government over what they termed 'scripted' and 'politically motivated' sentences awarded to PTI lawmakers, workers, and supporters by anti-terrorism courts in the May 9 cases. Deputy Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenuddin Riaz led the criticism, declaring that the ATC verdicts not only undermined justice but also deepened the political divide. 'Try whatever you can, but you cannot erase Imran Khan from people's hearts,' he said, accusing the government of prioritising political vendettas over pressing national issues like flood management. He further alleged that public funds were being spent on orchestrating cases against PTI members instead of addressing ground realities. In protest, the opposition staged a token boycott of the proceedings, briefly exiting the House. Responding to the protest, PML-N's Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad condemned the PTI's stance, questioning their moral authority to speak of justice after the May 9 violence. He accused the opposition of supporting sedition and undermining state institutions. Treasury MPA Amjad Ali Javed raised a separate issue, highlighting the misuse of Section 97-A of the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2016 by a traffic warden and a police official. He claimed the section had yet to be officially enforced and demanded action. The matter was referred to the relevant committee. Javed also urged the government to fulfill its 3% job quota for special persons, claiming implementation remains insufficient. In a similar vein, Treasury MPA Sohail Khan Zahid requested that agriculture taxes be waived in flood-hit areas. IPP's Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui called on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to address poor drainage conditions in Lahore's Railway Colony and adjacent areas following recent rains. Upon returning from their walkout, opposition members attempted to resume speeches against the ATC sentences, but the chair did not grant permission. This led to further sloganeering from the opposition benches. As tensions escalated, a lawmaker pointed out the lack of quorum. With insufficient members present to continue proceedings, the chair adjourned the session until 2 pm on July 28.
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Formation of commission to probe blasphemy cases: IHC suspends single bench's order
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC), Thursday, suspended a single bench's order of directing the government to constitute a commission within 30 days to probe blasphemy cases. A division bench comprising Justice Khadim Hussain and Justice Azam Khan issued the order in an Intra Court Appeal (ICA) filed by Rao Abdul Rahim advocate against the decision of Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan. In the ICA, the petitioner urged the court to declare the single-bench decision null and void, and to dismiss the original petition as inadmissible. He maintained that the single bench exercised suo motu powers and issued directions without hearing the respondents' version. The petitioner further argued that the original petitioners had multiple legal forums available to them, including trial courts, but chose not to approach them. He said that forming a commission to probe criminal allegations contradicts established legal procedures and precedents set by the higher courts. In this connection, Justice Ejaz directed the federal government to constitute a commission within 30 days to probe blasphemy cases. He issued the directions in petitions filed by the victim families seeking formation of judicial commission to investigate the cases. The bench directed the federal government to form a commission within 30 days to investigate blasphemy cases. It also directed that the commission formed by the federal government must complete its proceedings within four months. In this matter, the victim families, represented by advocates Abid Saqi and Usman Warraich, had petitioned the high court for the formation of a judicial commission. They mentioned a report by the Punjab Special Branch titled 'The Blasphemy Business'. The report alleged that a suspicious gang had been entrapping youth in blasphemy cases and extorting money from them after filing complaints with the FIA in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The petitioners asserted that this gang is the complainant in nearly 90 per cent of blasphemy cases registered by the FIA. It added that operating under the name 'Legal Commission on Blasphemy,' the group is said to be consisted of both men and women targeting poor and lower-middle-class Muslim families. They revealed that a concerning pattern emerges in the FIRs: out of over 400 alleged victims, 70 per cent are young men and women in their twenties or younger while many of the victims are professionals, including engineers, Hafiz-e-Quran, and degree holders in various fields. They further said that they had approached the federal government with a formal request dated August 4, 2024, seeking the formation of an inquiry commission on the Special Branch's report. However, no action has been taken to date. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
