ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday advised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to file an appeal against the ECP’s decision to disqualify PTI chief Imran Khan instead of encouraging its workers to resort to violence.

Speaking at a press conference here, the minister said attempts to create chaos and law and order were not acceptable.

He warned against creating difficulties for people in order to protest a “merit-based verdict”. He also advised all law enforcement agencies and civil administrations of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stand by the state.

“I would ask the inspectors general of police and chief secretaries of Punjab and KP and regional and district police officers of the two provinces to address the difficulties of the masses (following closure of roads due to the PTI’s protests).”

He further said PTI workers were trying to block ro­­ads in Punjab on the instigation of the provincial government and the situation would have been different if the PML-N was in power there. He asked parliamentarians and all the organisations of the PML-N to take to the stre­­ets peacefully in their respective areas to express solidarity with the commission.

Answering a question, the minister said a case would be registered against Mr Khan under the Pakistan Penal Code.

The minister claimed Khan had a habit of sowing seeds of hatred among children during his visits to universities. “Can such a person adjust himself in parliamentary politics… can he become a political leader?” he questioned, further accusing the former PM of following a foreign and anti-state agenda.

Calling Imran Khan a dishonest person and a certified thief, he said the PTI chief sold costly gifts received from foreign dignitaries, causing an embarrassment to the country before foreign heads of state.

Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2022