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
12 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
SC adjourns Imran's bail pleas hearing
Listen to article The Supreme Court adjourned on Monday the hearing of bail appeals filed by former prime minister Imran Khan until 12 August. The PTI founder had approached the apex court after the dismissal of his bail applications in the May 9 rioting cases by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The adjournment followed a request by Salman Safdar's legal representative, Salman Akram Raja, who asked the bench to reschedule the hearing for next week and issue notices accordingly. The case was taken up by a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. However, the bench declined the request to advance the hearing, opting to defer the proceedings for nearly two weeks. The bail petitions are now set to be heard on August 12. The LHC, led by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, had previously rejected Imran's bail, citing his alleged involvement in planning attacks on military installations in anticipation of his arrest on May 9, 2023. Imran appealed to the Supreme Court on July 26, arguing that the prosecution had presented three conflicting narratives linking him to the alleged conspiracy, all of which were rejected by various courts. The first version involved two police officials, Hassam Afzal and Asmat Kamal, who reportedly overheard the conspiracy on May 7 and May 4, respectively. This claim was dismissed by the ATC-III Lahore due to late disclosure and insufficient evidence, leading to bail in FIRs 366/23 and 1078/23. The second version alleged incitement through media statements but failed due to a lack of incriminating material and was rejected by the LHC. The third version relied on new witness statements, including from PTI leaders Sadaqat Abbasi and Wasiq Qayyum, but was also disbelieved by ATC-I Rawalpindi, which discharged co-accused Bushra Imran on August 20, 2024. Despite the rejection of all three versions by competent courts, the LHC denied Imran's bail on June 24, based solely on statements from the two police officers. Imran's petition argues that the case qualifies as one of further inquiry, entitling him to post-arrest bail under Section 497(2) CrPC 1898.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Punjab Assembly passes several bills amid brawl
LAHORE: In the absence of opposition members, the Punjab Assembly passed several significant bills on Monday, including the Punjab Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2025, the Punjab Prohibition of Narcotic Substances Bill 2025, the Punjab Autism Schools and Resource Centres Bill 2025, and the Punjab Immovable Property Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Punjab Assembly session began two hours and nineteen minutes late on Monday under the chairmanship of Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal. As soon as the proceedings started, opposition members launched a protest, chanting slogans as they entered the house. Treasury members retaliated with their own slogans. Parliamentary Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rahman addressed the assembly, stating that the session would proceed under Rule 232. He criticised the opposition for bringing too many photographs into the house, calling it objectionable. Deputy Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi; however, condemned what he called a politically motivated conviction of opposition leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar, stating that such injustice had no precedent in Punjab's history. He demanded that the session be paused to allow members to express solidarity with Bhachar. Qureshi further revealed that the PTI's parliamentary party had written to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, alleging human rights violations due to expedited trials running from 9 AM to 3 AM. Meanwhile, government member Waseem Ran protested against the Dolphin Police's brutal assault on a child, citing CCTV evidence of the incident. He accused the force of harassing citizens through unnecessary checkpoints, particularly referencing an incident at Pul Barkatabad where four officers allegedly beat a minor. Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal condemned the violence, calling it unacceptable and demanding strict action. Deputy Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi pointed out that several high-profile figures, including Andaleeb Abbas, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Murad Raas, and Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan, had been acquitted after press conferences, implying political bias in prosecutions. Opposition member Rai Ijaz lamented the discouragement faced by their members, while Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rahman countered that Ahmed Khan Bhachar's conviction was a judicial decision, not a political one. He emphasised that the courts had independently ruled on the May 9 cases, and the government had no role in the sentencing. The opposition staged a walkout, chanting slogans, while another opposition member, Sheikh Imtiaz, pointed out the lack of quorum—leading to his suspension for 15 sittings. Amid the chaos, PML-N Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad lashed out at the PTI, calling them a 'disruptive force' and warning that 'if the May 9 agitators raise their hands against us, we will cut them off.' The session took a violent turn when Opposition MPA Khalid Nisar Dogar slapped Treasury MPA Hassan Riaz, triggering a brawl between lawmakers. Acting Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar adjourned the session temporarily and summoned members to his chamber for mediation. After discussions, Dogar was suspended for 15 sittings— a decision the opposition rejected, arguing that the matter should have been referred to the Ethics Committee instead. As opposition members continued protesting, another MPA, Sheikh Imtiaz, raised the quorum issue, resulting in his suspension as well. Law Minister Sohaib Bharath defended the treasury's stance, stating that the opposition's behaviour was undermining democracy. He expressed regret over the need to invoke religious symbols in legislative disputes, urging political dialogue instead. Meanwhile, government member Amjad Ali Javed revealed that patients were dying due to doctors' refusal to prescribe outside medicines in government hospitals—a policy enforced under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's orders but poorly implemented, leading to shortages. Following repeated disruptions, the assembly passed key bills before adjourning. The session, marred by physical clashes, suspensions, and heated exchanges, highlighted the deepening political divide in Punjab's legislature. Acting Speaker Zaheer Iqbal condemned the violence, calling it a 'black day' for democracy, while the opposition vowed to continue resisting what it termed as government oppression. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Post-arrest bail: SC to hear IK's appeal against LHC order today
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's appeal against the Lahore High Court (LHC)'s verdict to cancel his application in 9th May cases today (Tuesday). A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, will take up Imran Khan's petition of bail after arrest. The former prime minister on July 26 filed the appeal through Barrister Salman Safdar and cited the federal government and Inspector Imran Sadiq of Gulberg Police Station as respondents. The Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore on November 27, 2024, had rejected Imran Khan's post-arrest bail requests in eight separate cases linked to the violent events of May 9, including the attack on Jinnah House. A two-member LHC bench, headed by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, also dismissed the incarcerated ex-premier's bail petitions last month after hearing the arguments of lawyers from the petitioner and the government. Salman Safdar argued that his client had no role in the violence or arson on May 9. He stated that Imran Khan was in the NAB custody at the time of the mayhem and later publicly condemned the unrest. It was impossible for him to take part in those riots, besides raising doubts over the case on the basis of 'contradictions' in the prosecution statements, he added. The petitioner's lawyer stated that the First Information Report (FIR) lacked sufficient evidence and termed the allegations of his involvement in the riots as baseless. Salman contended that the charges against Khan were politically motivated, and the federal government has been changing its narrative repeatedly, comparing it to a 'cricket strategy' full of confusing deliveries like googlies and off-breaks. The lawyer said that several legal decisions had already gone against the government in similar cases, and he presented nearly 25 court decisions to support his arguments. He also pointed out that in all the cases, the complainants were police officials. The petitioner sought further investigation into the case, as he suspected malafide intent on the part of the police for avoiding his arrest for five months. He maintained that the evidence against him is inadequate, while other co-accused have already been granted bail. He also called the delayed police statements unreliable and asserted that he deserves the right to bail. The May 9, 2023, events refer to the riots that were triggered by the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case. During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations, including the Corps Commander's House in Lahore and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many still remain behind bars. Imran Khan has been behind bars since August 2023 after he was sentenced in multiple cases ahead of the February 8 elections. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
