Rubbishing reports that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government was in jeopardy, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday made it clear that all parties allied to the government still supported it, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to the media at F-9 Park in Islamabad after inaugurating a ‘Family Gala’, organised by the Islamabad Traffic Police, he admitted the country’s economy was passing through tough times. “But one must not forget that inflation is a global phenomenon,” he reminded.

The minister was of the view that the time was ripe for the sit-in by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an opposition parties’ alliance, to succeed when its leaders had first marched on Islamabad.

He said as long as nobody takes the law into his hands, the state will not resort to coercion.  

Responding to a question about coalition parties’ ‘bellicose’ posture, the interior minister said it was not true that the parties were about to bid adieu to the government. “If there is a perception that the coalition parties are not on board with the government, it is wrong because some of the statements made by the leaders of these parties are misconstrued. These statements do not mean they are leaving the government but are the way to push the government for the acceptance of their demands,” he asserted.

“I stand with Prime Minister Imran Khan. I stand with his idea of using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections,” he said categorically.

He said a deal had been struck with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and reiterated he was not part of that deal.

Rasheed said details of the agreement would be made public in a few days from now.

The minister said right now 78 organisations in the country were banned.

He said although he was proud of the police, at the same time he was concerned about incidents of crimes recently reported from different parts of the federal capital.

Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani