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Lahore : Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to abandon its plan to stage a protest in Lahore on February 8, warning that any public gathering would be dealt with in the same manner as on November 26. His remarks come as the opposition party launches a massive drive against the 2024 general elections, The News reported.
As part of its campaign against the 2024 elections, the former ruling party has announced protests in various parts of the country.
The security czar said that the government would request PTI to cancel the demonstrations. “If PTI does not listen to us, as they did on November 26, we will respond in the same manner, and the state will take action,” he warned while speaking to journalists at the inauguration of a new passport office in Lahore.
Referring to an international match scheduled in Lahore on February 8, the minister, who also serves as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, criticised PTI’s decision to hold protests on the same day. He accused the party of damaging Pakistan’s international image by organising demonstrations whenever foreign dignitaries visit the country. “Their politics promote chaos rather than constructive development,” he remarked.
PTI has declared February 8 a Black Day to protest alleged electoral fraud in the 2024 general elections. It has announced a protest campaign across Sindh from February 1 to February 8 against what it terms rigging in the elections.
Additionally, PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar announced on January 30 that the party would hold a public rally in Swabi on February 8, following the directives of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan. The party has also sought permission to hold a public gathering in Peshawar on the same day to observe Black Day.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Aliya Hamza submitted an application on January 29 to the deputy commissioner’s office in Lahore, seeking approval from the local administration for a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan, also known as Iqbal Park.
PTI’s decision to return to street politics comes amid its negotiations with the government—talks that now appear to have collapsed after PTI refused to attend the fourth round of discussions on January 28. The party cited the government’s failure to form a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 riots and November 2024 protests as outlined in its charter of demands.
The dialogue process between the PML-N-led government and PTI began in late December following months of heightened political tensions. Although PTI presented a written charter of demands and participated in three negotiation sessions, little progress was made on key issues.
Sindh PTI President Haleem Adil Sheikh on Saturday described February 8, 2024, as a dark day, alleging that the country’s future was compromised through electoral manipulation, which led to the formation of a government with a “stolen mandate.”
He claimed that PTI’s mandate was stolen through Form 47, despite strong public support for the party. “Our symbol was taken away, our campaign was restricted, yet the people voted for the PTI.”
He further alleged that PTI originally won 174 out of 266 National Assembly seats according to Form 45, but due to manipulation in Form 47, its count was reduced to just 93 seats. He accused rival parties of benefiting from this electoral fraud, particularly in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi.
In Karachi, he asserted that PTI had won 20 out of 22 National Assembly seats, but through Form 47, 17 seats were allegedly handed over to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). He claimed a similar pattern was observed in Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, where PTI’s seats were allegedly reduced in favour of rival parties.
PTI leader Khurrum Sher Zaman criticised the current government’s economic policies. He questioned why prices had not decreased despite the ruling coalition’s claims of economic improvement. He also called for the release of all political workers to ensure political stability.
Karachi PTI President Raja Azhar announced the launch of a campaign in Karachi, culminating in a grand rally on February 8. “We will take to the streets on February 8, and the public will join us in large numbers to protest against the stolen mandate,” he declared.
The press conference concluded with calls for nationwide protests and demands for accountability in the electoral process.
During Naqvi’s media talk in Lahore, he was asked whether the government would comply if the US intervened on behalf of PTI’s founder, Imran Khan. Naqvi dismissed the query but asserted that Pakistan enjoys strong ties with the United States, with positive outcomes expected soon.
Federal Minister Naqvi also announced major reforms in the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), passport offices, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to improve public services and combat illegal immigration. He stated that a Passport Authority would soon be established, according to APP.
Speaking to the media, Naqvi emphasised that the government was implementing large-scale reforms to address public grievances. He noted that the demand for passports in Pakistan was high and that introducing new counters at Nadra centres would speed up processing times, reducing delays in passport issuance.
He announced that 14 major cities across the country would have similar centres to facilitate citizens and prevent long queues. He stressed that strict action was being taken against individuals attempting to travel abroad illegally using fake documents, as well as against human smuggling networks. He warned that those involved in such activities would soon be brought to justice.
Dismissing negative reports on social media about Pakistan-US relations, Naqvi assured that bilateral ties were strong and improving. He highlighted the recent visit of a Pakistani delegation to the US, which he said had yielded significant benefits, adding that better days were ahead for Pakistan.
When asked about planned reforms for the FIA, he said that special focus was being placed on Faisalabad and Gujrat, as a large number of young people from these areas attempt to travel abroad illegally. He warned that such illegal routes tarnish Pakistan’s reputation and harm its global standing.
Naqvi reaffirmed that action against human smugglers was a priority and assured that the public would soon receive good news regarding the government’s crackdown.
Regarding passport delivery issues, he emphasised that establishing a Passport Authority was the only viable solution. He added that he had already discussed the matter with the prime minister and acknowledged existing challenges, but assured that work on forming the authority would begin soon. — (Geo News)
