Govt rejects negotiations with PTI protestors

Islamabad: The government has decided to hold no negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters, said the Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday.

Talking to media along information minister Ata Tarar, Naqvi said that the protesters, who had gathered at D-Chowk, had been pushed back and the area was cleared.

The interior minister maintained that no negotiations would be held with the protesters, saying that "now that they have come and seen the situation, there is no possibility of talks. The government has made a clear decision that there will be no negotiations with those on the sit-in."

He detailed the actions taken by the government forces, stating that not only had the protesters been removed from D-Chowk, but they had been pushed back "two roundabouts away."

Naqvi accused the PTI protesters of trying to provoke violence, claiming that their objective was to cause casualties, a situation the government worked hard to avoid.

"We saw the type of people who came in these protest caravans," he remarked. "Their goal was to provoke violence and create martyrs, but we managed to clear the area without any loss of life," he added.

He also referred to Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, as being responsible for instigating the unrest. "The person responsible for the loss of life and property is one woman," Naqvi said, without explicitly naming Bibi, adding that the authorities would "deal with her accordingly."

Information Minister Atta Tarar joined Naqvi in condemning the protesters, accusing PTI of using children as human shields and attempting to stir violence.

During the press conference, he displayed marbles and shells used by the protesters to attack law enforcement, further highlighting the escalating nature of the protests. He said, "Today, we dealt with them, and we have pushed them two roundabouts back. No one can free anyone by force here."

The minister also accused PTI of orchestrating the protest with the help of foreign elements, claiming that Afghan nationals had been recruited to join the demonstration. He specifically named a "daily wage worker from Swat" and a 16-year-old Afghan boy as examples of foreign participation.

In a direct challenge to PTI and Bushra Bibi, Tarar demanded that she bring forward her family members, including her sons Qasim and Suleman, for further confrontation.

He declared that the government had repelled PTI’s assault, and no negotiations would be entertained. "There are cases in the courts; what is there to talk about? Can we offer an NRO or a deal?" he remarked.

Tarar warned against testing the state’s patience, accusing Bushra Bibi of seeking to take "blood and bodies" in her pursuit of political goals. "She should have the courage to lead from the front. We are still standing at D-Chowk," he added.

The information minister stated that while firing a gun may seem easy, the government would not allow protesters to receive the deaths they were seeking. "We will not give them martyrs," he said. "Let’s find out whose hands are stained with the blood of the police and Rangers martyrs."

He concluded by daring the PTI protesters to advance, stating, "Come forward, we are ready. Anyone who tries to come here will face a strong response."