Talal Chaudhry Warns Govt Will Block PTI’s Islamabad March
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has issued a stern warning ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned September 27 march, saying authorities would respond in a way that would deter future attempts to forcefully enter the federal capital.
Chaudhry argued that no provincial government could use state resources or its authority to “attack” Islamabad. He said violating the Islamabad High Court’s directions concerning protests and occupation of public spaces could also expose participants to contempt proceedings.
“If there is an assault on Islamabad now, we will stop it in such a way that no one will even think of coming again,” Chaudhry said, according to Express Urdu. The description of the planned mobilisation as an “assault” reflects the minister’s political characterisation; PTI describes its planned action as a protest march.
Chaudhry also referred to the events of May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024, while accusing PTI of a history of violent protest. His allegations about violence and responsibility during previous demonstrations are government claims and should remain attributed rather than presented as uncontested findings.
The minister further said that prison meetings with PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan would take place according to jail rules and argued that road blockades or demonstrations would not change those procedures.
Chaudhry also addressed the possibility of governor’s rule, saying the Constitution provides such an option but adding that the federal government did not want to act hastily and preferred to give political actors an opportunity to resolve the situation. He did not announce that governor’s rule was being imposed.
His latest remarks follow several increasingly strong government warnings ahead of September 27. On September 20, Chaudhry said peaceful citizens could come to Islamabad but warned that unlawful or violent conduct would not be tolerated.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has separately said the government would mount a “full response” if PTI proceeds with the march and warned the party against entering what he described as a political “dead-end street”.
The government has based part of its position on an Islamabad High Court ruling concerning demonstrations in the capital. Naqvi has said the ruling bars attempts to occupy public roads, highways or government buildings and that authorities have been instructed to enforce it.
PTI, meanwhile, continues to prepare for the September 27 mobilisation, which is intended to press for the release of Imran Khan. Contacts between PTI and authorities have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, according to current reporting.
The competing statements underline the rising political tension ahead of Sunday’s mobilisation. How the march proceeds — and what security measures authorities ultimately use — remains developing.
