The Pakistani government has asked the party of former Prime Minister Imran Jan, Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI), to exercise responsibility in protecting the security of the thousands of supporters following the deposed leader on his long march against the authorities, which will reach the capital, Islamabad, next Friday.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Jawaja Asif has warned that the responsibility for the security of the march lies with the PTI provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, given that «98 percent» of the caravan’s route passes through this area.
«If there is bloodshed, it is going to be the fault of those two governments,» he warned in statements reported by the Pakistani daily Dawn.
The Pakistani government has also called on the former prime minister’s supporters to put their safety first in a series of messages posted on its official Twitter account.
Meanwhile, the former prime minister has continued with his speeches, practically uninterrupted throughout the first two days of the march, amid criticism of the authorities and the country’s powerful army, which he accuses of having favored his political enemies.
«I want a strong Army. We need a strong Army. My criticism is not intended to hurt the military,» Jan assured the Pakistani authorities before assuring them that «the media in India», Pakistan’s rival country, «must be very happy to report that the Army and I are at loggerheads».
«We are on the side of our Army,» Jan assured, «but our criticism is constructive.»
Otherwise, Jan reiterated the huge support he enjoys during the march by declaring that next Friday «a human tide will come to Pakistan.» During his speech in the city of Sadokhe, 200 kilometers from the capital, the former prime minister has assured that the caravan has a purpose: «Justice for this country». «It is time to change our destiny,» he assured.
