All steps being taken reopen roads blocked by banned TLP: Sheikh Rasheed

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed has said that all steps are being taken to reopen roads blocked by banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Addressing a press conference on Sunday Sheikh Rasheed said 192 locations across the country had been sealed by the banned outfit. He said, “The situation is a bit tense at Lahore’s Yateem Khana Chowk where the Jamia Masjid Rahmatul Lil Alameen is situated. Presently, all roads including the GT Road and the Murree Expressway are open for traffic,” he said.

The GT Road and all main arteries of the country will remain open on April 20, the minister said. He was referencing the date as the banned outfit had planned a protest on April 20 over the alleged non-fulfillment of their demands.

Sheikh Rasheed said the government was not negotiating with the outlawed TLP, adding “No negotiation process is underway with the party’s leaders.”

Speaking about the proscribed organization, Rasheed said when an outfit is banned, the bank accounts and passports of its members are frozen by the government.

He spoke about estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen, saying that he was sure the sugar baron would not deflect from the PTI to any other political party.

On Saturday,  the Punjab government had placed Saad Rizvi, the chief of the banned party TLP, on the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Punjab’s home department in a notification had said his assets have been frozen, and his national identity card has been blocked — which means he cannot conduct transactions via banks, nor can he sell or purchase any property.

Similarly, the National Counter-Terrorism Authority, a day earlier, had placed TLP on the proscribed organization’s list. Rizvi has to submit his original passport to the in-charge of the concerned police station.

After he submits his passport, he will have to obtain permission from the police station when he wishes to leave his residence — and provide details of any meetings he wishes to hold anywhere. On Thursday, the federal government had declared the TLP a proscribed organization under anti-terrorism laws and launched a broad crackdown against the party.

On Sunday, the clashes occurred when police launched an operation to clear the area around Lahore’s Yateem Khana Chowk, where workers of the banned party have been staging a protest since earlier this week. At least three protesters were killed and several others injured during the clash, according to the party’s workers.

In a video message, a spokesperson for the banned party, Shafiq Ameeni, alleged that “forces suddenly attacked us at Lahore Markaz at 8 am today morning in which a large number of our workers have been martyred while many are injured”.

“We will bury those killed when the French ambassador exits the country and our agreement with the government is implemented,” he added. Meanwhile, a crackdown is underway against activists of the banned TLP in Islamabad and other parts of Punjab. Law enforcement agencies in Lahore had launched a crackdown against TLP activists ahead of the impending march to the federal capital.