Govt banks on clerics to break deadlock
Committee headed by Pir Haseenuddin Shah to be notified today
EXPRESS NEWS SCREEN GRAB
ISLAMABAD:
A meeting of religious scholars, organised by the government on Monday, announced its own committee to hold talks with the participants of the Islamabad sit-in as negotiations between the government and protest leaders remained inconclusive.
The government had convened the grand meeting of leading clerics belonging to the various schools of thought in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the sit-in that has paralysed life in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the last two weeks.
The government has not taken any administrative decision against the far-right leaders spearheading the protest, fearing bloodshed despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order which had given government until Saturday morning to clear the Faizabad Interchange of the protesters.
The protesters have been demanding resignation of Federal Minister for Law Zahid Hamid for allegedly altering the declaration of lawmakers with regard to Finality of the Prophethood – a change which the government called a ‘clerical error’ and has already reversed.
The day-long meeting held in the Punjab House concluded with a decision to form a committee headed by Pir Haseenuddin Shah to propose a comprehensive solution to the stalemate between the government and the newly-formed Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah.
After the meeting in which various government officials, including Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, took part, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf read out a joint declaration before the media-persons.
Yousaf announced it had been decided that recommendations of the PML-N committee earlier formed under Senator Raja Zafarul Haq to investigate the controversial amendments to election laws should be made public.
Man 'carrying 2kg of explosives' held near Faizabad protest site
The declaration, while expressing grave concern over the recent events including the alleged change in the elections law, demanded that whosoever behind the change should be taken to task.
The statement asked the Ulema committee to start its work forthwith in consultation with representatives of all schools of thought. The statement also urged the government to observe restraint and ‘avoid’ use of force at any cost.
“On [the advent of the] auspicious month of Rabiul Awwal, the Ulema and Maskhaikh also request protesters to give reconciliation a chance in order to ease the suffering of the eight million people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” it read.
“Our religion does not advocate creating difficulties for the people,” the statement maintained while referring to the problems of citizens of the twin cities due to the sit-in. “It is a collective responsibility of everyone to ensure peace and tranquility during the month of Rabiul Awwal,” it noted.
The religious scholars made it clear that Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is a sensitive issue and no one could be allowed to compromise on faith about the Finality of the Prophethood. The religious leaders, nevertheless, expressed satisfaction with the rectification of the changes made in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat declaration.
Talks between govt, protesters
Another marathon round of negotiations between the government and the protest leaders on Monday ended in a deadlock. The protesters were not ready to budge on their demand for removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, while the government was not willing to accept the demand.
The talks between a government team – comprising Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq and others – and the protest leaders – represented by a four-member delegation – were also held at Punjab House.
The two sides negotiated for more than two hours but they could not break the deadlock.
“The deadlock persists. There is no way other than resignation of the law minister,” the protest leaders said in a statement after the talks.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court has given the authorities until Thursday to resolve the issue and open Faizabad Interchange, which has been blocked since November 8. The interior minister during his appearance before the court on Monday sought another 48 hours to find a solution.
Since November 8, Islamabad police have registered at least 17 criminal cases against Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the cleric leading the sit-in, and others for blocking the roads and confronting law enforcers.
There have also been several scuffles and confrontations between the protesters and the law enforcers on the peripheries of the sit-in. Though the police have not released any official figures, around 143 protesters are estimated to have been detained so far.
Man with explosives nabbed
The police also arrested a motorcyclist who was allegedly taking explosives material to the sit-in site. Officials said the suspect was arrested near I-8 interchange after he tried to flee from the police.
“He was signaled to stop but he sped towards the sit-in. We nabbed him and during his search found 196 explosive sticks, 492 detonators and 300 meters of safety fuse wire,” said SHO Aabpara Khalid Mehmood Awan.
He said the suspect was identified as Faisal Shah. During initial interrogation, he told the police that the explosives were meant to be used in stone crushing. However, the officials said, he could not produce any licence to carry such explosives.
A meeting of religious scholars, organised by the government on Monday, announced its own committee to hold talks with the participants of the Islamabad sit-in as negotiations between the government and protest leaders remained inconclusive.
The government had convened the grand meeting of leading clerics belonging to the various schools of thought in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the sit-in that has paralysed life in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the last two weeks.
The government has not taken any administrative decision against the far-right leaders spearheading the protest, fearing bloodshed despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order which had given government until Saturday morning to clear the Faizabad Interchange of the protesters.
The protesters have been demanding resignation of Federal Minister for Law Zahid Hamid for allegedly altering the declaration of lawmakers with regard to Finality of the Prophethood – a change which the government called a ‘clerical error’ and has already reversed.
The day-long meeting held in the Punjab House concluded with a decision to form a committee headed by Pir Haseenuddin Shah to propose a comprehensive solution to the stalemate between the government and the newly-formed Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah.
After the meeting in which various government officials, including Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, took part, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf read out a joint declaration before the media-persons.
Yousaf announced it had been decided that recommendations of the PML-N committee earlier formed under Senator Raja Zafarul Haq to investigate the controversial amendments to election laws should be made public.
Man 'carrying 2kg of explosives' held near Faizabad protest site
The declaration, while expressing grave concern over the recent events including the alleged change in the elections law, demanded that whosoever behind the change should be taken to task.
The statement asked the Ulema committee to start its work forthwith in consultation with representatives of all schools of thought. The statement also urged the government to observe restraint and ‘avoid’ use of force at any cost.
“On [the advent of the] auspicious month of Rabiul Awwal, the Ulema and Maskhaikh also request protesters to give reconciliation a chance in order to ease the suffering of the eight million people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” it read.
“Our religion does not advocate creating difficulties for the people,” the statement maintained while referring to the problems of citizens of the twin cities due to the sit-in. “It is a collective responsibility of everyone to ensure peace and tranquility during the month of Rabiul Awwal,” it noted.
The religious scholars made it clear that Khatm-e-Nabuwwat is a sensitive issue and no one could be allowed to compromise on faith about the Finality of the Prophethood. The religious leaders, nevertheless, expressed satisfaction with the rectification of the changes made in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat declaration.
Talks between govt, protesters
Another marathon round of negotiations between the government and the protest leaders on Monday ended in a deadlock. The protesters were not ready to budge on their demand for removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, while the government was not willing to accept the demand.
The talks between a government team – comprising Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq and others – and the protest leaders – represented by a four-member delegation – were also held at Punjab House.
The two sides negotiated for more than two hours but they could not break the deadlock.
“The deadlock persists. There is no way other than resignation of the law minister,” the protest leaders said in a statement after the talks.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court has given the authorities until Thursday to resolve the issue and open Faizabad Interchange, which has been blocked since November 8. The interior minister during his appearance before the court on Monday sought another 48 hours to find a solution.
Since November 8, Islamabad police have registered at least 17 criminal cases against Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the cleric leading the sit-in, and others for blocking the roads and confronting law enforcers.
There have also been several scuffles and confrontations between the protesters and the law enforcers on the peripheries of the sit-in. Though the police have not released any official figures, around 143 protesters are estimated to have been detained so far.
Man with explosives nabbed
The police also arrested a motorcyclist who was allegedly taking explosives material to the sit-in site. Officials said the suspect was arrested near I-8 interchange after he tried to flee from the police.
“He was signaled to stop but he sped towards the sit-in. We nabbed him and during his search found 196 explosive sticks, 492 detonators and 300 meters of safety fuse wire,” said SHO Aabpara Khalid Mehmood Awan.
He said the suspect was identified as Faisal Shah. During initial interrogation, he told the police that the explosives were meant to be used in stone crushing. However, the officials said, he could not produce any licence to carry such explosives.