Opposition parties flay govt for mishandling Faizabad protest

PTI, PML-Q leaders say govt's mishandling of the issue aggravated the situation and resulted in losses of lives

LAHORE: Opposition parties welcomed on Monday a 'peaceful' end to Tehreek-e-Labbaik's Islamabad protest but criticised the government for handling the situation unprofessionally.

The 21-day-long sit-in by religious protesters at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange has finally came to an end.

The government was forced to accept Tehreek-e-Labbaik’s demands after a government operation to break up the sit-in went awry and sparked violent protests across the country.

"The issue would have resolved earlier without loss of precious lives had the government released the report of the committee led by Raja Zafarul Haq," said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central information secretary Shafqat Mahmood. "The government should have sought resignation of those responsible."



The committee had been directed to identify those whose negligence led to the changes in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat declaration.

Mahmood said the government introduced changes in the oath of the electoral nomination form in a surreptitious manner without any notices to the committees concerned.

The bill was never introduced in the National Assembly and minutes of these meetings could testify this fact, he maintained.



According to the PTI leader, the government launched a botched operation in Faizabad, leading to losses of precious lives and damage to properties. "Federal law minister Zahid Hamid could have resigned much earlier to diffuse the crisis."

Mahmood held the government directly responsible for handling the situation unprofessionally.

Meanwhile, speaking at a news conference, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) leader, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi appreciated Pakistan Army for its intent to avoid unrest in the federal capital. He went on to accuse the ruling PML-N of attempting to instigate civil war.

Elahi advised the government to meet all conditions of the agreement as well as identify those responsible for the change in the electoral oath form.