Maulana Asif Jalali-led faction of TLY calls off Lahore sit-in

Punjab govt, protesters agree on formation of committee tasked with probing into Election Act controversy

LAHORE: Maulana Ashraf Asif Jalali, the chief of a faction of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik, has called off his protest in Lahore after receiving the government’s assurance to fulfil all demands of the group.

The agreement was made late on Friday night, after which the group issued a press release announcing suspension of the protest sit-in being staged since last Saturday.

According to a spokesman for the group, the sit-in ended after a final round of talks between the Punjab government and the protesters’ leaders remained fruitful.



According to the agreement made available to The Express Tribune, the two sides agreed that the protesters would abide by the points of an accord agreed upon by the federal government and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik in Islamabad.

They also agreed to publish the report compiled by the Raja Zafarul Haq committee by December 20. The committee of PML-N leaders was formed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to investigate a controversy regarding an amendment to a clause in the election law.

Following the negotiations, Jalali announced that all of the group’s demands had been accepted and he was giving the government time until December 20 to find the people responsible for the Elections Act controversy.

“The government has given us a list of martyrs, arrested people and those who were injured during the Islamabad operation,” said Jalali about the action carried out to clear the Faizabad Interchange of protesters.

The issue of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s future role was also discussed during the negotiations.

“The matter of Rana Sanaullah now rests with Khawaja Hameeduddin who has sought his resignation by December 3,” Jalali said. However, he also threatened to resume agitation if the accord was not implemented in a month.



The protesters had blocked Mall Road in front of the Punjab Assembly, one of the busiest routes in Punjab. It is the main thoroughfare through which thousands of vehicles pass on a daily basis, while Lahore Zoo, Aitcheson College, Punjab Assembly, important business locations, five-star hotels and restaurants also fall on the same route.

The adjoining streets are where hundreds of taxi and rickshaw drivers as well as owners of makeshift stalls earn a living. After the talks, traffic on Lahore's Mall Road has now been restored.