Defence minister says government will not yield to pressure as PTI’s long march tensions escalate.
Web Desk: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that former prime minister Imran Khan will receive no relief if his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attempts to pressure the government through its ongoing long march.
Speaking to Geo News at Parliament House in Islamabad, Asif said the government would not give in to political pressure and accused PTI of acting in concert with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
He rejected the idea that PTI could force the government to accept its demands through the march, saying the government could not be “blackmailed” under any circumstances.
Asif accuses PTI of links with TTP
The defence minister alleged that PTI had aligned itself with the TTP and questioned the party’s position on the militant group and its alleged Afghan supporters.
Asif also claimed that militants were operating openly in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and questioned the writ of the provincial government in those areas. These were allegations made by the defence minister and were not independently established in the report.
‘No relief’ if PTI uses pressure
Referring to PTI’s long march, Asif said the government would not provide relief to Imran Khan if the party attempted to use political pressure to force concessions.
He urged PTI leaders to return to the negotiating table and focus on governing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rather than attempting to force the federal government to accept its demands.
The warning comes amid heightened political tensions following the breakdown of talks between the government and PTI over the party’s planned march towards Islamabad.
Government warns over Islamabad march
The federal government has previously warned that it would protect Islamabad against attempts to force entry into the capital.
Asif said on October 7 that the government was trying to avoid using its “last option” but had a responsibility to defend the capital if it faced an attack.
The government has also indicated that governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could be considered if no other option remained, although Asif said authorities were attempting to avoid that step.
