ISLAMABAD – Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLY) announced tocall off sit-ins in Lahore and other cities, after successful dialogueswith the government in the wee hours of Friday.
TLY leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi while addressing a press conference at theprotest site asked his followers all over the country to end the sit-insand go home. He also announced an end to the strike being observed todayand called for opening businesses and shops.He urged his activists toexpedite efforts for elections 2018. Rizvi paid rich tribute to theprotesters.
Whereas Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri said that the government has assured themto abolish the cases, registered against the activists of TLY. He saidPunjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan will appear before their party.
Afzal Qadri said that their demands were approved in written. He said thegovernment handed over Raja Zafarul Haq committee report to them.“Federaland provincial governments have agreed to implement Faizabad agreement,”group’s chariman Pir Afzal Qadri said. “They will make public Raja ZafarulHaq committee’s report and Rana Sanaullah will appear before the clerics.”
Earlier security had been beefed up in the capital and adjoining areasafter the latest deadline given by Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool AllahPakistan (TLY) to the government for the implementation of its demandslapsed on Thursday.
Heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies have been deployed at theentry and exit points of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. A joint flag-march ofthe army and LEAs was also held in the capital, according to a securityofficial.Meanwhile, TLY chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi has escalated a protesthe has been leading at Lahore’s Data Darbar since April 2.
He is pressing for the implementation of the Faizabad agreement, which wasbrokered by the army last year between the government and leaders ofTehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA), of which TLP is an offshoot.PirAfzal Qadri, chairperson of the TLP, told party workers after the 4pmdeadline lapsed today that they must “come out on the streets and not goback until Rizvi announces an end to the protest”.
Following Qadri’s orders, TLY workers have taken to the streets in variouslocales of Lahore. According to reports, they have also attempted tointimidate commuters and citizens with sticks and batons.
They have also blocked various key traffic intersections in Lahore,including the busy Thokar Niaz Beg. Reports also state that the flow oftraffic from Shahdara till the motorway has been choked considerably. Thereare also reports of clashes between TLY workers and commuters. Lawenforcement agencies are reportedly present but are refraining fromstepping in.TLY leadership’s words caused a chain reaction in Sahiwal whereparty workers created blockages on the Lahore-Multan motorway atChichawatni bypass and near View Hotel at Lahore-Sahiwal bypass; they vowedto not end their sit-in until orders come from Lahore.Temporarydemonstrations and sit-ins were also reported in Mian Channu city inKhanewal district as well as in Kabirwala on the National Highway.
“If the 11-point Faizabad agreement, which includes provisions like therelease of arrested workers and withdrawal of cases against them, is notimplemented, the entire country will be on the roads next Friday,” Qadrihad told journalists last week.