TLYR kicks off ‘fill the jails movement’

Jilali says activists will be present before PA on daily basis

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) has kicked off its ‘fill the jails movement’ to register its protest against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government for not meeting their demand of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s resignation.

TLYR chief Dr Ashraf Asif Jilali, along with his workers, held a protest demonstration in front of the Punjab Assembly on Mall Road on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Dr Jilali said TLYR workers will continue their protest till the resignation of Sanaullah. “The Punjab government has deviated from its commitment and lost moral authority to govern. Government actions prove that rulers are also involved in this sin,” he maintained.

The declaration of oath, he underscored, was amended intentionally at the behest of the enemies of Islam. It does not matter how powerful these people are; the government should make their names public and award them exemplary punishment. The rulers are not paying attention to public sentiments but tomorrow they will have to face public reaction during the election campaign, he added.

Dr Jilali said the TLYR workers would continue to protest and present themselves for arrest between 1pm and 4pm daily in front of the Punjab Assembly. He highlighted that TLYR Karachi Ameer Ghulam Murtaza Noorani, along with his workers, had also presented themselves for arrest in Karachi. A similar campaign will also be initiated in Islamabad from today (Sunday).

Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Jilali and Mufti Muhammad Waqar Madni will present themselves for arrest in front of Islamabad Press Club.

He said the TLYR had initiated its struggle for justice on October 12, 2017, but the government was continuously employing delaying tactics and deviating from its commitments.

TLYR workers were holding banners and placards with anti-government messages inscribed on them. Speaking to The Express Tribune, a TLYR worker, Muhammad Ramazan, said he was participating in the protest demonstration on Dr Jilali’s call and would continue to protest till the acceptance of their demands.

“All of us are ready to present ourselves for arrest as our leader says. The way to jail leads to jannah,” said Jilali. “We are ready to sacrifice for our lives or anything for the honour of our beloved Prophet (SAW),” he underscored.

The City police deployed a force on Mall Road to maintain law and order situation during the TLYR demonstration. However, police did not arrest anyone and protestors dispersed peacefully.

On the other hand, Punjab government has constituted a special committee under the leadership of provincial Ministers Zaeem Hussain Qadri and Mian Mujtaba Shujja ur Rehman. The committee is tasked with bringing stakeholders to the table for negotiations.

Last month, country-wide protests broke out following a crackdown on religious protesters in Islamabad. At the time, the Lahore district administration requested the provincial government to deploy the paramilitary Rangers to help control the worsening law and order situation in the city.

“In the wake of current security scenario with respect to the protests/rallies at different places of Lahore, it is requested that Rangers troops may kindly be requisitioned to avoid any untoward incident,” Lahore’s deputy commissioner said in a letter to the Home Department on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2018.