ISLAMABAD, Sunday, September 20, 2026: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Junaid Akbar Khan has warned of a forceful response if protesters are killed during the party’s planned mobilisation towards Islamabad, using the phrase that the capital would be turned into “Somnath” if there were fatalities. His remarks were reported on Sunday amid heightened tensions ahead of the planned protest.
Referring to PTI’s previous protest, Akbar claimed party supporters had been unprepared for the possibility of gunfire and had returned after collecting the bodies of those killed.
“Last time, we were in shock,” he said, adding that protesters had regarded the state as a mother and had not expected it to open fire.
Akbar said PTI supporters would not respond in the same manner this time if there were deaths during the protest. “This time, we know the state will fire,” he said, before making the “Somnath” reference while warning that protesters would not simply collect their dead, bury them and return home.
His comments come as tensions rise around PTI’s planned mobilisation towards the federal capital, with authorities preparing security measures on routes leading to Islamabad. Recent reporting has also documented restrictions and confrontations involving PTI leaders during political activities.
Tarar says government will protect public life
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar responded to Akbar’s remarks by accusing PTI of seeking unrest rather than peaceful protest.
Tarar said the statement showed, in the government’s view, that the party’s objective was to create disorder and destruction. He accused PTI leaders of favouring violence and said protecting citizens’ lives, property and livelihoods remained the government’s priority.
The information minister also described the protest call as illegal and unconstitutional and said authorities would not allow roads to be blocked or normal life in Islamabad to be brought to a halt.
The competing statements have further raised the political temperature ahead of the planned protest, with PTI maintaining its right to mobilise supporters and the government insisting that public order and normal movement in the federal capital will be protected.