Speaking at a federal cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had planned a march on Islamabad, adding that such a move would no longer be allowed. He said he would not allow Pakistan to be rendered helpless and that the law would take its course.
The prime minister said the government had called for an end to long marches and sit-ins but had received no response.
The development comes as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continues its long march towards Islamabad after talks between the government and opposition failed to produce agreement on key issues.
The PTI launched the march from Lakki Marwat on October 4. The convoy travelled through Karak before reaching Kohat on Monday.
Under the initial plan, the convoy was scheduled to leave Kohat for Peshawar on October 6 and travel from Badaber towards Charsadda on October 7. Participants from Khyber district were also expected to join the march at Badaber. However, under the revised route, participants from Khyber district will join the convoy before it reaches Peshawar.
According to the PTI, a major convoy from the first phase of the march will assemble at Khyber on October 8, where the party will announce its future strategy.
The PTI announced on Monday that it would continue its march towards Islamabad after a deadlock persisted in negotiations between the government and opposition.
