Interior Ministry’s confusing threat alert letter ahead of PTI’s Rawapindi March

Interior Minister issued a letter to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Asad Umar to warn about security threats ahead of the political party’s Rawalpindi rally.

The Interior Ministry has written a letter to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Asad Umar on Wednesday, expressing concerns regarding the threats to Imran Khan’s life.

The letter urges PTI to postpone public gatherings and expressed fear of attacks by Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

However, giving a strong reaction to the letter of the Ministry of Interior, TLP chief Hafiz Saad Rizvi has advised the government to be careful and rejected the claims of the interior ministry.

The letter stated, “The PTI’s Long March (Haqeeqi Azadi March) that started from Lahore on 28.10.2022 was attacked by an armed assailant at Allahwala Chowk in Wazirabad on 03.11.2022. The incident claimed one life and many others were injured, including PTI Chief, Mr. Imran Khan.”

“The march is now expected to arrive in Rawalpindi soon. It has been learnt through reliable intelligence sources that a serious threat to the life of former Prime Minister, Mr. Imran Khan, as well as general public participating in long march exists,” it read.

“Some of the factors shared by an intelligence agency which enhance the likelihood of such an event:

i. Leakage of video statement of the accused shooter.

ii. Believe of radicalized and uneducated young members of TLP that Mr. Imran Khan had been responsible for Police crackdown against TLP protestors in the past, therefore, any attempt of a lone wolf attack for vengeance by any radicalized youth of TLP cannot be ruled out

iii. Alliance of PTI with MWM and participation of MWM cadres in Long March making it a target of an shiite militants, particularly ISKP as a large number of Daesh operatives have infiltrated from Afghanistan into Pakistan after TTA’s takeover.

iv. In addition, Al-Qaeda has been dormant for quite some time, however, it has a penchant for conducting attacks of strategic implications. In this backdrop, mass bombing / IED attack or suicide attack cannot be ruled out against such soft targets.

In view of the aforesaid, it is requested that extreme vigilance and caution may be exercised to prevent the possibility of any such incident, it added.

TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi criticised the federal government for blaming the religio-political party for planning an attack on the PTI’s Rawalpindi rally and asked the government to tender apology over the security threat letter.

پی ٹی آئی لانگ مارچ پر حملہ کی منصوبہ بندی کا الزام تحریک لبیک پر لگانا حکومت کی انتہائی بھونڈی اور واہیات حرکت ہے، حکومت وقت ہوش کے ناخن لے اور فی الفور اس تھریٹ لیٹر کو جاری کرنے پر پوری قوم سے معافی مانگے،
تحریک لبیک کسی بھی قسم کے دہشتگردانہ فعل کی مخالف ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/3FcYTfBScz

— Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi (@Real_SHR9263) November 23, 2022

He said, “Accusing TLP for planning armed attack on IK’s long March is diabolical action of govt. TLP has never been involved in such sinister activities. Govt must mend its ways and apologize for issuing baseless threat. We don’t encourage any act of terrorism at all.”

Accusing TLP for planning armed attack on IK’s long March is diabolical action of govt. TLP has never been involved in such sinister activities. Govt must mend its ways and apologize for issuing baseless threat. We don’t encourage any act of terrorism at all.

— Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi (@Real_SHR9263) November 23, 2022