He said Maryam Nawaz should show the nation the name of the bank, the account title, the account number and the receipt for the amount deposited.

Speaking at the birthday ceremony of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, here on Sunday, he said that if verifiable official records of the aircraft rental payment were not presented, it would be assumed that facts had been concealed from the nation.

He said the PPP would approach the appropriate legal forum to establish the truth behind Maryam Nawaz’s statement and the alleged payment. He added that if the chief minister had misled the nation, action should also be taken against her in accordance with the constitution and the law.

Stressing that the law is equal for everyone, he said the same principle under which Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was disqualified should also apply to the PML-N leader.

He criticised the ruling party for allegedly giving concessions to the rich and inflation to the poor in every budget. He proposed an additional tax of at least Rs50,000 on vehicles above 1500cc so that the tax burden would fall on the wealthy rather than on the poor.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2026

Brent crude futures and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude touched their lowest since September 10 earlier on Monday. The Brent contract for November was at $102.09 a barrel at 11:55am PKT, down $1.78, or 1.71 per cent, ​after settling 0.91pc lower on Friday.

The WTI October contract that is expiring on Tuesday fell $1.97, or 1.96pc, to $98.33 a barrel ​following a 1.58pc drop in the previous session.

“It seems that a degree of risk premium is ⁠being removed from oil prices on hopes that a diplomatic path to de-escalate the US-Iran war may arrive this week,” said Tim ​Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

“Whether that hope proves to be warranted or not is another question. Time will tell.”

WTI broke ​a key psychological support at $100 a barrel while some investors may have rolled over their positions in the October contract a day ahead of expiry to November, a Singapore-based broker said.

Iran and the US exchanged new threats on Sunday, although President Donald Trump said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud ​Pezeshkian, who is expected to be in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly.

Iran has conveyed its conditions to mediators ​for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ending the war with the US, Al Jazeera cited Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, as saying in an interview ‌on Saturday.

However, ⁠tensions in the Middle East remained elevated as Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they attacked “sensitive” sites in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Saturday with missiles and drones, as well as an Aramco facility in the Red Sea city of Yanbu, a key oil export hub.

On Monday, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Hossein Mohebbi, said Iran would use new weapons and target locations not previously attacked if the US ​launched a new offensive against ​it, according to the Fars ⁠news agency.

China has asked Iran to help rein in the Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia following the attacks, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.

The attacks by the ​Houthis on Saudi Aramco’s East-West pipeline have prompted the state energy firm to increase exports through the Strait ​of Hormuz this ⁠month and next after halting some shipments via Yanbu.

“Middle East oil flows remain surprisingly strong despite the disruption to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline,” JPMorgan analysts said in a September 18 note, adding that the total oil flows averaged 17.1 million bpd in the past 10 days, just 6.1 ⁠million bpd ​below the 2025 average.

“The most notable pivot has come from Saudi Arabia,” the ​analysts said, as satellite data indicated Saudi oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 2.9 million bpd over the past six days, up from just 700,000 ​bpd in August.

He made the statement while addressing a press briefing. Naqvi’s remarks come as the party prepares for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad on Sept 27 to press for the release of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.

“We have clearly told them (PTI) that they can never achieve anything through such drama, and I will say again that there is still time; they should not go into this situation,” he said, advising the party to “not enter a dead-end street”.

Naqvi vowed the government will not “leave any loopholes” in its response if the party went ahead with the protest.

The interior minister held that PTI’s majority leadership was not in favour of the march. However, “if they do, then we have the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order, and the government will ensure its implementation”.

He appealed to PTI to adopt a different approach.

“Do not harm yourself and your workers,” he said.

On being asked if the government had any “long-term solution” to PTI’s frequent protest calls, the interior minister said, “I believe this time we will find a permanent solution; we will not leave it halfway”.

When asked why the government was reluctant to shift PTI founder Imran Khan to a private health facility — as requested by his party and family — amid concerns about his health, the minister said doctors examined Imran “last night”.

“If they demand that his check-up should be done at a hospital, then we did have one last night [..] we are already fulfilling the demand,” Naqvi said.

“As for the treatment that is prescribed under the law, we will do everything according to the law. But we will not do it simply because they are demanding it,” the interior minister added.

Naqvi, during his talk, reiterated that PTI’s senior leadership was not in favour of the march.

On being asked if the Interior Ministry will fulfil its role in the upcoming protests, he said, “This time, we will fulfil our role completely. As I said, it will be once and for all”.

When asked whether the federal government had any plans to ban the party, the interior minister reiterated, “As I am telling you, this time we will find a once and for all solution. We can’t afford this every time”.

Naqvi was also asked if the government was considering imposing governor rule in PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). At this, the minister said, “Look, we have already made it clear to them that whatever legal options are available, the prime minister, in consultation with our law ministry, will utilise them”.

However, he clarified that the party will not be allowed to “come to Islamabad and shut down the city for ten days. That possibility does not exist”.

Naqvi also spoke about the creation of new provinces, saying that the matter was progressing rapidly and that public participation in the campaign had increased.

“The new provinces issue is moving forward at a pace that we cannot even imagine. The way people are practically coming forward, whether they are chambers, traders or individuals, everyone is playing their role in one way or another. I am very hopeful that, God willing, and if the public wants it, new provinces will certainly be created,” he said.

“And as far as the movement for new provinces is concerned, I believe it is moving ahead rapidly,” he added.

Naqvi’s warning comes as part of the government’s pushback against the party’s proposed march.

On Sunday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government would not allow any violent group to reach Islamabad or block roads, stressing that the administration would ensure compliance with an IHC order against disruption to public movement.

The IHC order, issued on Sept 14, ruled that no political party or its leadership has the “lawful right to occupy public roads, highways, interchanges, toll plazas and buildings in Islamabad”.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday also warned that strikes, sit-ins, long marches and road closures could cause an estimated Rs120 billion loss to the economy each day.

Last week, following the IHC judgement, Naqvi warned that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital “in every possible way”.

The development also comes amid reports of a crackdown on PTI workers ahead of the Sept 27 march.