No Phone Call from America Yet for PTI Founder, Mohsin Naqvi A similar request was made to PTI on November 26, and another will be issued before the February 8 protest.

mohsin naqvi addresses the media during his visit to the mega passport center on peco road in lahore photo screengrab
No Phone Call from America Yet for PTI Founder, Mohsin Naqvi

State will intervene if PTI protests on Feb 8, says interior minister

Naqvi said a similar request was made to PTI on November 26, and another will be issued before the February 8 protest.

LAHORE  ( WEB  NEWS  )

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the government will request Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to reconsider its planned protest on February 8, but if the party refuses, the state will take necessary action.

Naqvi made these remarks during his visit to the Mega Passport Center on Peco Road in Lahore.

In response to a question, the Interior Minister recalled that a similar request was made to PTI on November 26, and another request will be issued ahead of the February 8 protest. “If they still refuse, then the state will be compelled to intervene,” he added.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that no phone call has yet been received from America for the founder of PTI, adding that it would be better to ask the PTI founder what they want regarding negotiations. He also requested PTI to refrain from holding a rally on February 8. The minister revealed that a strategy has been developed to crack down on the agent mafia involved in illegally sending citizens abroad, and a strong operation against them is set to begin soon.

Speaking to the media after the inauguration of a passport office at the NADRA center in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi mentioned that there had been heavy crowds at the NADRA office on Shimal Pahari just a few months ago, but now the situation has significantly improved. He described the newly inaugurated center as exemplary and a model, expressing his hope that all NADRA centers would function in a similarly organized manner. He reaffirmed the commitment to continue improving NADRA centers to make them more efficient.

Regarding the establishment of a Passport Authority, Naqvi emphasized that the only way to ensure timely passport delivery was through the creation of this authority, which he had already discussed with the Prime Minister. He claimed that there were no delays in the work of passport offices or NADRA now.

When questioned about the customs and FIA’s actions against the agent mafia, Naqvi stated that significant changes were coming to the FIA in the near future. Referring to boat accidents, he noted that immigration counters had to become stricter due to some individuals attempting to leave for Europe and other continents illegally by boat. However, he acknowledged the difficulties faced by those traveling legally and said that the government did not want legitimate travelers to face any hardships.

He mentioned that the majority of illegal travelers were from the Gujrat and Faisalabad divisions and that notable changes would occur within the FIA to tackle this issue. He also made it clear that while the government would be happy when Pakistanis travel abroad legally, strict action would be taken against those attempting to leave illegally and bringing shame to the country.

Naqvi further explained that while he could not promise the complete eradication of the agent mafia, a solid strategy had been devised, and a strong crackdown would be carried out soon. Talking about his recent visit to the United States, Naqvi expressed that the positive effects of the trip would soon be visible. He mentioned that Pakistan has a good relationship with the U.S. government, and the results of his visit, including meetings with U.S. Congress members and Senators, would be seen in the future.

Regarding the protest call by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during the Champions Trophy match in Lahore, Naqvi remarked that PTI had previously set similar dates for protests, and the news circulating on social media was not factual. He added that, as before, the government would request PTI to refrain from such actions, and if they insisted, he would leave it at that with a smile.