Calling the call given by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an opposition parties’ alliance, for the long march towards Islamabad on March 23 (Pakistan Day) a ‘big mistake’, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad on Tuesday suggested to the alliance leaders to change the date of their march since the routes leading to the federal capital were closed for traffic few days ahead of Pakistan Day celebrations, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Sheikh Rasheed advised the opposition leaders not to reach Islamabad on March 23, but either several days ahead of it or several days later. “If the opposition leaders found the roads blocked on reaching Islamabad, it would have no justification to complain to the government,” the minister made it clear.
He also predicted that the ‘inflation’ against which the PDM leaders planned to set out on a long march would be brought under control by March.
Sheikh Rasheed also rejected reports of a caretaker setup taking over the present Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government, and said that Imran Khan would complete his five-year term as the prime minister.
The minister asked the PDM to call off their protest on March 23, insisting them to shift it to April instead.
Reporter Awais Kiani