ISLAMABAD: The proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has announced to end their protests across the country after hours-long negotiations on Monday night, however, demonstration in Lahore would continue until the demands are met.
The negotiations were held on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan by a team of government officials, led by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, and Law Minister Raja Basharat.
The TLP Shura will make the announcement at the sit-in outside Lahore’s Rehmat ul Aalimeen mosque after 11am. Sources have informed that the government has also agreed to reverse the ban on the organization. The party’s spokesperson or the government refused to comment in this regard.
During the negotiations, the government’s delegation refused to acknowledge the death of a large number of religious activists, saying that some activists were killed and the numbers were exaggerated on social media.
The TLP has put forth four demands: the expulsion of the French ambassador, the release of party chief Saad Rizvi, the removal of the ban on the party and the release of activists arrested as well as the FIRs against them to be revoked.
According to sources, the government delegation accepted all the demands but refused to deport the French ambassador and remove Sheikh Rashid from the post of interior minister.
Sources said the proscribed organization assured the government not to escalate the protest. In a message to the workers, TLP leader Shafiq Amini said that the Lahore’s sit-in would continue only, directing the workers to end their protests across the country.
After the third round of talks, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid announced that the government will present a resolution on the expulsion of the French ambassador in the National Assembly later today.
Rashid said that the TLP had agreed to call off protests across the country. “Talks with the party will continue,” he said. The minister said that cases registered against TLP workers under the Fourth Schedule will also be withdrawn.
