Government willing to negotiate at any time with protesters: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday afternoon that the government is willing to conduct negotiations at any time with the protesters of the sit-in. 

The minister added that the operation was being conducted on the directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and added that the court had ordered to end the sit-in in three days.

Iqbal appealed to the people to not cause chaos as it plays into the hand of international conspiracies against the country.

The interior minister further added that the security forces and administration are trying to ensure minimum loss.

The operation to clear Faizabad interchange from protesters staging a sit-in began early morning on Saturday.

Heavy contingents of police, FC and Rangers were deployed to the interchange, where they used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, who had paralysed the federal capital for almost three weeks.

Security officials conducted the operation against the protesters from five directions: Khanna Pul, GT Road, Islamabad Club Road, Express Highway and Murree Road.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) also ordered to take all news channels off air.

Following the directives, news channels were reported to be off the air in parts of the country.

The regulatory body had also barred media from live coverage of Islamabad operation under Media Code of Conduct 2015.