ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that the government will not engage in any negotiations with the protesters, blaming one woman for the loss of life and property caused by the ongoing demonstrations.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Ata Tarar, Naqvi stated that a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister had decided that no talks would be held with those staging the protest. He further claimed that the chaos in Islamabad, including both the loss of life and damage to property, could be attributed to one woman, whom he accused of orchestrating the situation.
Naqvi emphasized that the protesters, rather than peacefully demonstrating, had been aiming to create bloodshed, saying, “Their objective was clear — they wanted to incite violence and take lives.” He also criticized the protesters for bringing slingshots to the protest, adding that despite the unrest, Islamabad remained open and accessible, unlike previous protests where roads had been blocked and diggings were carried out.
Regarding the situation in Islamabad, Naqvi stated, “This time, we did not dig up the city or block any roads. Despite the turmoil, Islamabad has remained open. These people brought slingshots with them, yet we managed to maintain order.”
Information Minister Ata Tarar also addressed the situation, stressing that a foreign leader was in the country just a few kilometers away, and that the protesters’ use of slingshots and other tactics would not weaken the state. “The state is not weak,” Tarar said. “They think they can intimidate us with slingshots, but we will not bow to such tactics.”
Tarar also revealed that a person arrested from Swat claimed to be a laborer, while a child apprehended during the protest admitted that he had come from Afghanistan. He suggested that the woman behind the protests was there with the intent to cause harm, saying, “She is here to take blood, to collect bodies.”
The statements from both ministers come amid ongoing protests in Islamabad, with the government taking a firm stance against the demonstrators and vowing not to negotiate with those causing disruption in the capital.
