Oct 24, 2021: Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said Sunday that talks between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Lubaik Pakistan (TLP) had been successful after they threatened to march towards Islamabad.
A day earlier, opposition parties and the banned outfit staged separate protests in several cities across the country, partially shutting down Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Talking to reporters, the Home Minister said that all roads, which were earlier closed to prevent protesters from marching towards Islamabad, would be gradually reopened to traffic. He added that TLP protesters [Islamabad] would not move forward and would remain in Muridke till Tuesday.
The Home Minister said that after reviewing their demands, the issue would be resolved peacefully by Tuesday. Meanwhile, Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said that the issue would be resolved through mutual understanding. Authorities have been instructed not to clash with police and protesters, he said.
A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the federal and provincial ministers to hold talks with the TLP when they threatened to march towards Islamabad.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had a telephone conversation with Qadri to discuss the current law and order situation. On the directive of the Prime Minister, Qadri had reached Lahore from Karachi for talks with the leadership of the banned outfit.
The government’s negotiating team included Rasheed, Qadri and Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Raja Basharat. The Prime Minister also directed the Home Minister to return home from the United Arab Emirates, where he had gone to watch the India-Pakistan High Voltage T20 World Cup.
On Saturday, the government responded to the TLP’s announcement that it had dug a trench on GT Road near Gujranwala by saying it would march towards Islamabad. With the help of cranes, a deep and long pit was dug while the roads were already closed with containers. Thus, all the roads leading to Gujranwala were closed.
Meanwhile, a procession from the banned organization, whose participants had started the march from Lahore, had reached Sadoke.
The banned group called for a peaceful protest after Friday prayers to demand the release of its leader, Saad Rizvi.
Rizvi was taken into custody shortly after the federal government declared the TLP a banned organization under anti-terrorism laws and launched a wide-ranging crackdown against the party.
Speaking on the move, Prime Minister Imran Khan had clarified that his government had taken action against the banned TLP because it had “challenged the state writ and used violence on the streets, the people and the law.” Attacked enforcers. ” Two policemen were martyred in a collision between two cars during a protest by the banned outfit in Lahore on Friday night. More than 40 policemen were injured in clashes between police and members of the banned organization.
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