LAHORE: Government was helpless to arrest Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi because of the agreement signed between the TLPand the government, wherein the army played a role of a ‘mediator’, saidPunjab Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah.
The three-week-long sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange had ended only afteran agreement was signed between the government and the protesters, in whichthe government conceded to most of the protesters’ demands, including thatof removal of the then law minister Zahid Hamid.
It is pertinent to mention here Maj Gen Faiz Hameed of the Inter-ServicesIntelligence (ISI) had signed the agreement in the capacity of ‘guarantor’.
Speaking to media, the law minister said, “The [PML-N] government is notbacking off but there is an agreement present with the signatures of theguarantor and the government and we have to abide by it.”
Rizvi, along with other leaders who participated in Faizabad sit-in, hasbeen declared a proclaimed offender by an anti-terrorism court after herepeatedly skipped the court proceedings.
Commenting on the attack on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the Punjab lawminister said that security should be beefed up and the mindset giving riseto such incidents should be amended.
Rana demanded stern action against the elements involved in creating such amindset. It is pertinent to mention here that Ahsan Iqbal escaped anassassination attempt last Sunday in Narowal. He was shot at by a man whoshowed affiliation with the TLP.