Rana Sanaullah suggests a ban on the PTI.

ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Saturday that the government had no choice but to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while vowing harsh action against “PTI gangsters who vandalised public property” during protests against PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.

In a news conference, he said that CCTV records will be utilised to identify them. “Anyone who has been identified will be held accountable,” he continued. He further said that their commander [Imran Khan] will be held responsible for coordinating such atrocities.

He went on to explain that Mr Khan had a plan to create chaos in the nation and that he had been working on it for years. “He has produced a cult since 2014, especially since last year, which can help you gauge that it is not a political party but a mindset full of hate, violence, abuse, and threats,” he continued.

He said that the number of rallies and protestors around the nation decreased from 45,000 on May 9 to up to 6,910 on May 11. “I am fully responsible for reporting these duly verified facts and figures,” he said.

On May 9, demonstrations were held in 12 locations in Islamabad, with up to 700 people participating, in 221 locations in Punjab with 15,000-18,000 people participating, and in 126 locations in KP with 19,000-22,000 people participating. “On May 10, the capital city saw protests at 11 locations with a total of 1900 people, at 33 locations in Punjab with 2200 people, and at 85 locations in KP with 13000 agitators,” he said.

The minister went on to state that on May 11, demonstrations were held in Islamabad at four locations with 515 individuals, in Punjab at 12 locations with 1,000 people, and in KP at 39 locations with 5,000-6,000 demonstrators in total.

Mr Sana went on to declare that this was not a popular response, but rather the work of trained terrorists, and that similar samples of petrol bombs were discovered around the nation during the inquiry. “Is this the public reaction that he [Mr Khan] has been claiming?” he inquired.

“Who calls burning defence installations and martyr’s graveyards politics?” he wondered. “It has never been our political culture, even though the PPP and PML-N have been at daggers drawn in history,” he said. He stated, however, that they never directly assaulted one other.

He inquired as to which political party had destroyed residences, schools, historic structures such as Radio Pakistan in Peshawar, and animal farms. “Didn’t they [the PTI members] have houses in the country and families here?” he inquired.

He lamented the looting and burning of shops, businesses, and sensitive areas. He said that it was a source of worry for the public. “A man who is accused of looting Rs60 billion from the country is doing this,” he remarked. Mr Khan claimed to have spent almost ten years preparing such terrorists for his capture. “It is a source of concern for the country and food for thought for people who may face similar situations in the future,” he continued.

“Explain to me how difficult it is for a political party to manage a few thousand people to commit such acts,” he added. “It’s just a matter of willpower,” he continued.

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The money of a property tycoon was unlawfully moved to the United Kingdom and had to be restored to Pakistan. Instead, it was returned to the Al-Qadir Trust. “Not a single penny was given back to the country,” he continued.

According to the minister, Mr Khan continued to incite people to burn homes, assault buildings, plunder banks and stores, and harm public property. “When this criminal comes to the Supreme Court, CJP Umar Ata Bandial welcomes him and gives him relief that has never been seen before,” he complained.

If he was welcomed by the CJP, what power did the subordinate courts have, he wondered? “Mr Khan asked the court to grant him bail in cases that had not yet been filed,” he said.

Mr Sanaullah said that the nation will soon learn how public funds had been used for favouritism. “Mr Khan has been exposed, and the nation should get to know him properly,” he said.