TLP’s continued protest signals days of blockades

Locals to face troubles as religious group to stage sit-in till April 12

LAHORE: The provincial capital may yet have to face more days of inconvenience as the Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi-led Tehreek Labaik Pakistan’s (TLP) continued deadlock with the government has prompted the religious group to continue its protest till April 12. TLP announced that is the day they will go on a countrywide strike.

The announcement was made by Pir Afzal Qadri who was with Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi during hours-long negotiations with government officials. “We cannot reach a consensus so we will continue with the sit-in till our demands are met,” he commented.

He elaborated on the group’s demands, saying it wanted the Raja Zafarul Haq’s report on the controversial change in the lawmakers’ oath to be made public. It also asked for the release of all protesters arrested during the Faizabad the sit-in, the formation of a committee to suggest action against those who used force against demonstrators, and full implementation of an earlier agreement between the Punjab government and TLP.

Earlier, in his speech at Data Darbar, Rizvi said the agreement, which was signed by the government and the TLP at the end of Faizabad protest, is still to be implemented. “Today, our deadline has ended. Now we will continue our protest,” he said.

Massive inconvenience

As the sit-in has persisted for the last five days, residents of Lahore have endured massive inconveniences, especially during peak rush hours. The major thoroughfares of Lahore have been chockablock with traffic. “Actually, we are left hanging in the balance.

The jams around Lahore just add to the misery,” commented Shahzaib, a resident of Anarkali Bazar. He said that at Minar-e-Pakistan, Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah has scheduled a rally for today (Saturday), while Tehreek Labaik Pakistan has arranged its sit-in at Data Darbar. “They should come to the negotiating table and stop these politics of agitation,” he suggested.

Government response

According to a press release issued by the Punjab government, a representative delegation of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah, led by its Sarparast-e-Aala Tehreek Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri, called on Provincial Minister Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan. The delegation included Central Nazim-e-Alaa Tehreek Muhammad Waheed Noor, Majlis-e-Amla Ashoora member Sheikh Azhar Hussain Rizwi, Sindh Provincial Ameer Muhammad Ghulam Ghaus Baghdadi and Provincial Ameer Engineer Afeez Ullah Alvi.

Interior Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Aftab Ahmed Durani, Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Azam Suleman, IGP Punjab, the CCPO and Lahore commissioner were also present on this occasion. Rana Sanaullah said the concerns of the religious group were related to the federal government.

“Our senior colleagues are in contact with the responsible persons on the federal level to resolve their issues.”

At the same time, the law minister assured that a breakthrough was on the horizon. He said matters would be resolved through negotiations. Sanaullah directed the Punjab IGP and Lahore commissioner to maintain a personal liaison with the sit-in participants.

On the occasion, representatives of the delegation said that they would prefer to solve all matters through negotiations with the government.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2018.