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It has been a week of chaos as the proscribed TLP has been protesting on the streets and has threatened to march towards Islamabad. The government has finally decided to deal firmly with the banned outfit and treat it as a militant wing rather than a religious organisation.
The interior minister negotiated with the protestors and urged them to call off their protest. The federal cabinet deliberated on the protest grinding the nation to a virtual halt, setting up road blockages, and vowed that the writ of the state will not be challenged. It was eventually decided that no demand will be fulfilled and the state will not be blackmailed on different pretexts.
There has been a strong reaction from the public who have borne the brunt of the lawlessness created by the TLP by blocking roads, disrupting businesses and damaging property. The final blow came after TLP activists opened fire on police. At least four policemen were martyred and several others were injured. Eventually, the state realised the situation was getting out of control and the outfit must be dealt with an iron hand. It is the responsibility of the government to provide justice to the slain policemen and their families.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the TLP is a militant wing and will be dealt with accordingly. However, unlike other fringe groups such as the TTP of Al-Qaeda, the TLP is based in cities and a crackdown can lead to even more bloodshed. The TLP is protesting the release of its leader Saad Rizvi and the expulsion of the French ambassador over blasphemous caricatures but no Muslim country has witnessed such violent protests.
The TLP certainly has a political agenda and is exploiting the religious sentiments of the people to achieve them. The government should investigate whether hostile countries are providing any covert support. It should also crack down on those spreading hatred on social media and undermining the state. Given the current economic and security challenges, there should be serious consequences for the ensuing chaos. The state should not allow such protests under any circumstances if it wants to establish its writ.
