Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday pledged to fulfill the promises made by the government with the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). talks A day earlier, he said the matter would be discussed in the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday after Prime Minister Imran Khan returned from Saudi Arabia.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said he found TLP chief Saad Rizvi “very cooperative” in comparison to other leaders of the banned outfit.
Ahmed said the government’s talks with the TLP were “very good”. He revealed that he had requested not to join the government’s negotiating committee as “it is the job of the Punjab government, not the interior ministry”, but rejected the idea at the insistence of Rizvi and another TLP leader Ghulam Ghaus Baghdadi. was given. .
“We are keeping our word. There is information that a road has been opened which is very good. We will fulfill the promises made to them.”
The minister said the team will meet Prime Minister Imran tomorrow after returning from a visit to Saudi Arabia and will also take up the matter in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.
He said the prime minister had directed his principal secretary to ask the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to unfreeze the accounts of TLP madrasas and allow them to open new ones, before leaving for the visit.
It would be better this way because the FBR would be aware of the money being received and spent by the madrassas, he explained.
Responding to a question about his statement a day earlier in which he said that the government “did not ban TLP”, he clarified that the organization was banned, but “we are also talking about it”. are.”
Ahmed said he wanted to put an end to the matter because “every six months something new happens and people face hardships” – a reference to the TLP’s constant protests that brought life to a halt in the Twin Cities. Gave.
“It is my wish that the matter ends the way it has been discussed with TLP. We will fulfill our commitments. If something bad happens somewhere, what can I do?”
With regard to Rizvi’s release, the interior minister said there were legal loopholes that the TLP chief “understands”.
“Many others insist [freeing him] Immediately. Decision cannot be taken yet. There is a legal process that we will follow. We will talk to the Prime Minister after we return tomorrow.”
Responding to another question about the damage done during the TLP protest, Ahmed said: “Vandalism is illegal. No one should be harmed because Pakistani organizations have been banned internationally.
Ahmed shared that he has signed an agreement with the TLP and will present it in the National Assembly.
Govt frees 350 TLP employees
As yet another complete surrender before violent protesters marched towards the capital via GT Road, the federal government released more than 350 TLP activists, in addition to announcing that by Wednesday (27 October) there would be others. Cases against will be withdrawn.
The government also assured TLP leaders to review the Fourth Schedule list containing their names and work on a plan to release Saad Rizvi, Ahmed announced on Sunday.
The interior minister, who addressed a press conference in Islamabad after leading a government team in talks with TLP representatives, including its detained chief, later tweeted: “We have released 350 TLP activists so far. And we are still waiting to open. As decided with TLP on both sides of Muridke’s road.”
“Maybe people will say that the state has surrendered. But it is not the state’s job to use lathi (force),” the minister said. He told that the duty of the state is to find a way of reconciliation. “This is my point of view as Interior Minister,” he added quickly.
A member of the TLP shura said that they had agreed to the government’s proposal to stay and wait in Muridke for two days as the government had assured them that it would release all those arrested, including the TLP chief and other shura members. Will do, and review. Fourth Schedule.
He further claimed that the government had promised that it would act on it. a settlement Signed with the group in November 2020.
On Saturday, relatively poorly equipped and poorly trained cadres of the banned TLP entered Gujranwala by bulldozing all security levels of the Lahore and Sheikhupura police. After leaving Lahore, they had slowed down and decided to spend the night in Muridke. The banned organization had three policemen and two workers. killed On Friday, when there was a fierce fight between the protesters and the police at Chauburji Chowk in Lahore.