Fawad rubbishes reports of operation against protesters

Second round of negotiations expected today

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry dismissed social media reports of a security operation against protesters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).



Aasia Bibi – a Christian woman who was accused of blasphemy in 2009 and later sentenced to death by a trial and a high court – was acquitted by the SC on Wednesday. The decision triggered immediate and widespread protests across the country.

In a tweet posted early Friday morning, Fawad said reports regarding a security operation against the protesters were fake and the situation was under control.

ملک بھر میں حالات کنٹرول میں ہیں،مظاہرین کے ساتھ مذاکرات جاری ہیں حکومت عوام کی زندگی اور آزادی کی ضامن ہے مظاہرین کے خلاف آپریشن کی سوشل میڈیا پر خبریں غلط ہیں حکومت تشدد کی راہ نہیں اپناناچاہتی مذہبی امور نور الحق قادری آج بھی مظاہرین کی قیادت سے مذاکرات کریں گے،

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 2, 2018

He reaffirmed that the government did not intend to use force. “The negotiations with protesters are ongoing,” said the information minister.

Fawad added that Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri was set for another round of talks with protesters on Friday.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader also added that the government is the guarantor of public’s lives and freedom.



On Thursday, the information minister had asserted that the government, opposition and all ‘state institutions’ were on the same page regarding the strategy to deal with protestors.

“It is seditious to challenge the writ of the state but the government will show patience and will give them a chance to resolve the issues peacefully,” said Chaudhry while addressing a press conference along with Minister for Planning Khusro Bakhtiar after a federal cabinet meeting.

Fawad Chaudhry said the opposition parties have been taken into confidence on the ongoing protests following the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Aasia Bibi case.