ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister Rana Sanaullah asked former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday to postpone an anti-government rally in Rawalpindi, saying that intelligence agencies had warned him about militant attack on the public gathering.
Khan, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April, launched a protest march to the federal capital last month to seek early elections in the country. However, his motorized caravan came under attack by a gunman who killed one man and injured Khan along with ten other party workers.
Khan urged his supporters to gather in Rawalpindi on Saturday to secure “real freedom” for the country in a video clip circulated on Thursday.
“All intelligence agencies have issued a red alert related to this rally and informed the government that it can benefit any terrorist or terrorist group,” the interior minister said while asking the former prime minister to postpone the “pointless gathering.”
He added Khan was “facing threats to his life.”
Sanaullah maintained people with “evil designs” could target such political rallies, especially when they were announced in advance.
“We have issued an advisory from the government’s side [to highlight the threat],” he continued.
The interior minister said he had also communicated the threat to senior police and other administrative officials in Punjab province where the rally is scheduled to be held.
Earlier in the day, the provincial government said they had made arrangements to provide “foolproof” security to Khan and his protest rally.
The former prime minister’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has also set up a “tent city” in Rawalpindi to facilitate supporters with accommodation, food and other amenities.
“We will be ensuring foolproof security for Imran Khan and all his supporters, and law enforcement agencies have already been working on it,” Omar Sarfraz Cheema, advisor to Punjab chief minister on home affairs, told Arab News. “We will be deploying all available resources and taking all security measures which are humanly possible to keep the event secure and peaceful.”
Cheema criticized local administration in Islamabad for not allowing Khan’s helicopter to land in the capital’s Parade Ground, which is adjacent to Rawalpindi.
“It is unfortunate the Islamabad administration is playing politics, knowing that Khan faces serious security threats,” he maintained, adding that alternate arrangements would be made for Khan’s helicopter.
The ex-premier plans to fly from Lahore to the protest site in Rawalpindi to address the gathering and share his next plan of action.
“It’s Khan’s prerogative whether to disperse after the gathering or turn it into a sit-in,” Cheema continued.
Caravans of Khan’s supporters from across the country would start reaching Rawalpindi Friday night where the Punjab provincial government has beefed up security around the tent city.
The Rawalpindi administration has granted conditional permission to the PTI for the rally in the garrison city, asking it to vacate the protest site on the night of November 26 in view of expected arrival of the England cricket team on November 27.
The Islamabad police have said that all entry and exit points of Faizabad, a key junction between the federal capital and Rawalpindi, have been closed for traffic.
Diversions have been placed at Faizabad for traffic on Murree Road, the Islamabad police said, adding residents could use Old Airport Road and Stadium Road to enter Rawalpindi from Islamabad.
Khan, who has been agitating against the government of PM Shehbaz Sharif, says he was ousted and the incumbent government was “imposed” on the nation as part of a United States-backed foreign conspiracy as he was pursuing an independent foreign policy for Pakistan. Washington and Khan’s opponents deny this.
The former prime minister has been recovering at his Lahore home since sustaining gunshot wounds and has previously addressed supporters through a video link.