Federal orders bureaucracy against use of KP govt resources for Nov 24 protest

Fearing that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) might use state machinery for its upcoming protest, the Interior Ministry has ordered Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry to ensure that state resources were not used.

In a letter to the KP chief secretary, the ministry said the provincial government must not utilise “state machinery, equipment, officials or finances” for political protests.

The development comes a day after the ministry also approved deployment of both the Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Rangers in Islamabad to deal with any law and order situation due to the PTI’s Nov 24 march on the federal capital.

The federal government has already imposed section 144 in the capital city for two months.

Last week, PTI founder and former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan had issued the “final and decisive call” for countrywide demonstrations on November 24.

The PTI demands revocation of the recently-passed 26th Constitutional Amendment, “restoration of democracy”, the return of “public’s mandate” in light of irregularities in the 2024 General Election, and the release of all political prisoners, including party founder Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, police have reportedly launched a crackdown on PTI leadership and workers, arresting at least 30 activists so far.

The development came despite Imran Khan’s permission for the party leadership to negotiate with the government and establishment.

Imran’s lawyer and PTI leader Faisal Chaudhry, while speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail, said that if the talks between the government and opposition leadership remain successful, then there “won’t be a protest but celebration”.

“If negotiations make progress by tomorrow (Thursday), then it is fine… if the talks do not progress, then we will definitely protest,” Faisal quoted incarcerated Khan as saying.

Previously, former PM Khan was arrested on August 5 last year from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and has been in jail since then on multiple charges.

Currently, he is held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail under high security and with B-class facilities due to his status as a former premier.

It may be noted here that incarcerated PM Imran Khan is facing several cases, including the £190 million reference (Al Qadir Trust case).

However, the Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has been granted bail in the ToshaKhana case 2.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Wednesday granted bail to party founder Imran Khan in ToshaKhana case two.

However, the party founder was reportedly not released as he has been in judicial remand in multiple cases in Lahore.