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ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has announced to end its protest after successful negotiations with a government delegation.
Earlier, several activists gathered on the call of TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi to denounce the publication of blasphemous caricatures and remarks about Islam and terrorism by French President Emmanuel Macron. They had announced to continue a sit-in in Faizabad until the expulsion of the French ambassador from the country.
On the direction PM Imran, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri lead the government’s delegation, comprising interior minister Ijaz Shah, secretary interior, and Islamabad Commissioner Amir Ahmed talked with the TLP chief, sources said.
The TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi announced an end to the protest soon after talks with other leaders of his party, sources added.
The government negotiating team informed the leadership of Tehreek-e-Libek in writing regarding the TLP demands.
The agreement was signed by Federal Interior Minister Ijaz Shah, Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri and Commissioner Islamabad. The agreement was reached on 4 points.
On Monday the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan had summoned Qadri following the protest in the Faizabad area of Islamabad sources had informed.
According to the sources, the premier had directed the minister to initiate negotiations with TLP leadership staging the sit-in in the federal capital city. The TLP workers have staged a sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange, causing massive disruption to the daily lives of twin cities residents.
The TLP rally in Rawalpindi, which attracted up to 5,000 people on Sunday, continued today, with around a thousand protesters gathered at the roadblock preventing them from entering the capital.
A notification, dated November 15, issued by the office of Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) detailed security arrangements in the capital to prevent violent incidents from taking place.
“It is expected that participants in the rally could go violent and proceed towards the French embassy by breaking their promises with the district administration,” the notification read.
Senior officers of Islamabad’s administration had approached TLP leaders yesterday after they sought security cover for Sunday’s protest rally. The protesters are demanding the government to recall Pakistan’s ambassador from France and expel the French ambassador in Islamabad.
The officers had tried to convince TLP leaders and organizers of the rally to call it off due to the prevailing virus situation, said sources, adding: “Covid-19 is spreading all over the country, including Islamabad.”
In the notification issued by SSP Operations, security officials have been directed to ensure the security of citizens, key government installations, maintenance of public order and dismantling terror attacks.
Mobile signals remained suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the third day and roads leading to Faizabad Interchange as well as entry points of Islamabad were blocked by placing containers.
Police had to resort to teargas shelling against the stone-pelting protesters who had gathered on the call of TLP chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi to denounce the publication of blasphemous caricatures and remarks about Islam and terrorism by French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the clashes, dozens of police personnel, including senior police officials, and several TLP members were injured.
