Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warns PTI of strict action if they try to enter Red Zone

• Govt warns PTI ahead of their protest tomorrow outside ECP's office.
• "PTI wants to spread chaos in the name of the protest," interior minister says.
• He adds complete security will be provided of protest is held in H9 or F9 park.

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Wednesday warned PTI of strict actions against those who try to enter the Red Zone as the party announced to stage a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) tomorrow.

The interior minister issued the warning while addressing a press conference flanked by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in the federal capital.

Two days ago, PTI Chairperson Imran Khan announced holding a peaceful protest outside of the ECP on Thursday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.

“PTI wants to spread chaos in the name of the protest,” the interior minister said, revealing that the coalition government has "received reports" and has found statements of Khan and Fawad Chaudhry regarding their plans of creating an anarchic situation outside the election commission.

He said that they [PTI] can attack the election commission; however, they should remember that the Islamabad High Court has imposed restrictions on staging protests in the Red Zone.

“Protests are strictly prohibited in the Red Zone and if someone tries to enter the area, they shouldn’t complain about the consequences of their actions later,” he said, highlighting that there are some selected venues where the PTI can stage a "peaceful protest as it was everybody’s right in the democratic era."

The interior minister reiterated that neither will anybody be allowed to protest outside the ECP nor will the government let anybody take the law into their hands.

According to the court orders, protests can be held in H9 and F9 parks, therefore, complete security will be provided to the protesters at the designated venues.

'Foreign agent'

Commenting on the ECP’s verdict in PTI’s foreign funding case, Sanaullah said: “Following the announcement of the verdict, the party has been declared a foreign-aided party.

Khan took foreign funding and spread political anarchy in Pakistan,” he said, adding that the PTI chairman is spreading hatred in Pakistani politics.

Regarding the cabinet meeting scheduled later this week, the interior minister said that some important decisions will be taken regarding the “foreign agent”.

“The ECP, in its verdict, has highlighted various crimes committed by the PTI and has also mentioned the anti-state and money laundering factors,” he maintained, adding the coalition government is reviewing the verdict to identify the involvement of other relevant sectors.

The interior minister said that decision regarding adding names to the exit control list (ECL) or arrests will be made accordingly.

A day earlier, the ECP, in a unanimous verdict, said it has found that the PTI received prohibited funding.

He further added that the PTI chairperson issued a call for the protest after hearing the verdict of the ECP. 

“It is our request that the reference [filed by the PTI challenging the decision] should be heard by a full court,” he said.