ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday issued instructions to stop the long march announced by the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, saying “no one will be allowed to use violence for political gains”.
Sources with knowledge of the matter said that the decision to stop the banned organization from marching was taken during a meeting of the federal cabinet. PM Imran Khan said in the meeting that the government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the protest march of the banned outfit in the meeting, sources said, adding that the government has decided not to restrict the protesters from proceeding through Jhelum.
Earlier in the day, several police officers were injured in a clash between police and TLP workers in Sadhok.
Sources further said that the government is adamant not to allow the long march “under any circumstances” and that “no talks will be held with the banned organisation.”
According to sources, during the meeting the premier said, “The government and the state are on one page regarding the protests, if protesters try to enter Islamabad they will be dealt with strictly.”
‘This show should end now’: Fawad Chaudhry
Highlighting the matter, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the problems with the banned organization should not be escalated, adding that “the show must end now.”
Talking to the media in Islamabad before the cabinet meeting, Choudhary had said that the long march on GT Road should end immediately.
“The issue of banned TLP will be discussed in detail during the cabinet meeting and the show should be over,” he said.
‘TLP not a religious organization’
Later, briefing the media on the cabinet decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “TLP is not a religious organization, it is an extremist wing”.
The minister said the cabinet has decided to deal with TLP like a terrorist organization, as he criticized the banned political party for blocking roads and central arteries to protest against them.
He said, “They have already done a show six times. Banned TLP cannot blackmail the state, there is no situation. In the past, we have defeated terrorist organizations.”
The Information Minister, noting that six police officers were martyred during the protest, asked how long the state would function as a mute spectator.
“We don’t want bloodshed,” he said and slammed the TLP for blocking the roads “without reason”.
He asked the banned outfit not to underestimate the authority of the state, as the government had waited for a long time.
Choudhary said that many people joined the protesters with AK-47s in their hands.
Government orders action on social media accounts of banned organization
According to sources, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has directed the concerned authorities to initiate action on the social media accounts of the banned organisation.
Sources in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said that they have received instructions, they will initiate action against the social media accounts of the organization as scheduled from today.
‘If Imran Khan’s dharna was justified, why is the TLP’s long march being stopped?’ Fazal
On the other hand, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said: “If Imran Khan’s dharna was legitimate when he was in opposition to PTI, why is the TLP’s long march not justified?”
He questioned that if the protest against Nawaz Sharif is justified then why is it illegal against Imran Khan.
“They are preventing protesters from entering Islamabad, we demand that general elections should be held.”
Fazal further said that “the TLP has the legal right to register its protest, so the matters should be resolved through legal means”.
Pakistan Railways announces alternate routes
Meanwhile, in light of the development, Pakistan Railways announced that trains to and from Rawalpindi and Lahore were directed to use alternate routes.
Railway spokesperson said that trains are being routed via Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Jhand.
The spokesman said that the operation of Subak Kharam, Islamabad Express, Rawal Express was suspended, while the route of Orange Line from Rawalpindi to Lahore was also suspended.
However, the rest of the trains will run as per their schedule.
Similarly, traffic on GT Road has been suspended due to the six-day protest, causing inconvenience to the commuters.
Government refuses to close French embassy
A day earlier, Rasheed had said that the government agreed with all the demands put forth by the banned party except the demand for the closure of the French embassy.
Briefing the media about the progress of talks with the banned outfit, Rasheed said, “We have several obstacles in the matter of the French ambassador.”
The minister had said there was “a lot of pressure on Pakistan” over the banned outfit’s demand related to the French embassy.
He had said, ‘If we send the French ambassador for packing, then Pakistan may face many problems.
Rasheed had expressed hope that the banned outfit would end its sit-in as the government accepted its key demands.
“We want them to review their demand regarding the French embassy,” the home minister said.
He further told the media that a report on talks with the leadership of the banned outfit had been submitted to the Prime Minister, which was discussed in the meeting held today in the presence of Chief Secretaries and Inspector Generals of Police, besides civil and military leadership.
“We want peace in the country. It is our endeavor to resolve all matters with TLP through dialogue at the earliest.
Rashid had said that despite the martyrdom of two policemen and the injuries of 70 others despite the condition of two being critical, the government wants to resolve the issue with mutual understanding and cooperation.