‘Much more’ agreed with govt than public knows: Rizvi

Protest leaders say a separate agreement also made with Punjab govt

ISLAMABAD: The Faizabad blockade and the sit-ins across the country might be over after the army-brokered deal between the protesters and the government, but the fallout and implications of Monday’s controversial accord, which many have termed capitulation on the part of the government, are yet to be seen.

Moreover, Khadim Husain Rizvi, the cleric who led the Faizabad blockade, claims much more was agreed to between him and the government than what was officially acknowledged.

The one-page agreement which has been made public mentions law minister’s resignation, making the Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee’s inquiry report public, the release of all detained protesters and withdrawal of criminal cases against them, and the government taking responsibility to pay for the damage caused during the three weeks of protests.

The last point of the agreement refers to a separate accord between the protesters and the Punjab government and says all things agreed in the accord will also be implemented.



Though this second accord has not been officially acknowledged yet, protest leaders say their demands therein had also been accepted.

Rizvi claimed it had been agreed with the government that persons convicted of blasphemy would get no relaxation and neither would such people be allowed to go abroad. Another thing he claimed had been agreed was that Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah would appear before a board of clerics to clarify his position with regard to his alleged pro-Ahmedi remarks. This board, led by Rizvi’s deputy Pir Afzal Qadri, will decide Rana Sanaullah’s fate.

Rizvi said it had also been agreed that the government would take his party’s input to include more religious content in school and college curricula. Other demands he claimed had been met included making it easier to lodge blasphemy cases, and relaxation on use of loudspeakers in mosques.

The cleric also said that the government should make all-out efforts for the release of Aafia Siddiqui.