| Interior Minister claims TLP will continue sit-in at Muridke till final outcome of talks | Directs administration to remove all containers from roads in Rawalpindi, Islamabad | Police, security agencies will not take any action against protesters | Religious Affairs Minister
Rashid says he had one-on-one meeting with jailed TLP chief Saad Rizvi
French Ambassador’s expulsion matter will be taken to Parliament: Interior Minister
ISLAMABAD – Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Sunday termed the first round of dialogue with the leadership of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) as a ‘very good’ and ‘hopeful.’ The minister also directed the administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to remove all containers from the roads to ensure smooth public movement.
Addressing a press conference, Sheikh Rashid said, “It is our desire and endeavour to resolve the law and order situation as early as possible while settling all matters through negotiations.”
He said it has been decided that the TLP workers will stay at Muridke till final outcome of the talks. He said the government does not want any confrontation with religious forces. Interior Minister also said he had lengthy discussions with TLP leadership and a one-on-one meeting with jailed TLP Chief Saad Hussain Rizvi. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the issue of French Ambassador will be taken to the assembly as per promise.
He said that it was decided to withdraw their cases by Tuesday or Wednesday besides looking into 4th schedule matters. He said that he repeated his stance in front of them that Pakistan was facing several international and national challenges and successfully handling these matters. The minister said he assured them that their one demand would be forwarded to the Parliament for making a commitment on it with the involvement of Speaker National Assembly.
He said that TLP negotiating team members will come to the Ministry of Interior on Monday at 10:00 am to continue talks. “We will make efforts to resolve all outstanding issues to come to a positive end.”
He said that their complaint about not giving any positive response for the last six months was true. “I also met with Saad Rizvi to have a detailed discussion with him”, he added.
The minister said that TLP people will stay in Muridke Tuesday evening. The government will try to manage the situation by that time, he added.
He said that out of 7,000 arrested people of TLP during the last protest now only 176 were in jails. “They have right to make any claim being a party, however, officially there is no any report of any causality of their worker.”
Sheikh said, “Being a political worker, I am ready to hold talks with any political party.” He, however, said that opposition parties failed to get the support of the general public of the country on the issue of inflation as these all were all their political stunts. He said that there should be no confrontation as holding protests was the right of political parties. “Our responsibility is to ensure a calmer atmosphere rather than creating confrontation.”
He said that all outstanding issues should be resolved and roads should be reopened for students, patients, and the general public. A joint supervisory committee will be formed to jointly manage the administrative matters of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, he added.
Replying to a question he said,” Our utmost effort should be to resolve the matter so that those sitting in Muridke return back to their homes and we take their demands seriously.”
He said that he had to return back to Pakistan from UAE, skipping the Pakistan-India T20 World Cup match as he was called back by Prime Minister Imran Khan to hold talks with TLP.
Sheikh Rashid said that presently there was no restriction on any political activity while there was an open political discussion on all media.
He said, “the opposition has been saying since December last year that PTI is going to lose power, but it should clear any misunderstanding about the government.” The present government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will complete its tenure and that the government was successfully running the state affairs, he added.
‘Talks with TLP heading towards success’
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sahibzada Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said Sunday said the negotiations with the protesting Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were heading towards success.
In a statement, he hoped that the sit-in of the TLP would remain peaceful and the roads would be kept open. “The protestors would continue protests (from) wherever they were,” he said.
The government would seriously listen and consider all demands of the protesters after consultations, he said while out-rightly ruling out any clashes between police and protesters and confidently saying that the all contentious issues would be resolved with mutual understanding.
“Police and security agencies would not take any action against the peaceful sit-in,” he said adding the TLP would end its protest by Tuesday and all closed routes would be reopened by (following) morning.
He assured that all demands would be resolved in accordance with the law and after which the protesters would end their protest peacefully.
Normalcy likely till Tuesday evening
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Sunday said that the government is successful for holding peaceful dialogue with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and current situation with protesters would be normalized till Tuesday.
Talking to a private news channel, the minister said PTI-led govt has initiated peaceful dialogue with protesters to return them back peacefully and the nation would get good news soon.
He said the demands of TLP regarding arrested people and other reservations would be addressed on priority, adding, all blocked routes which were closed due to ongoing wave of protests and sit-ins by the banned TLP would be unblocked till Tuesday. He said government would take all those steps to maintain law and order situation in the country. He said the govt has been tackling all issues with Islamabad protesters ‘peacefully’ as it did not want any confrontation and clash with protesters and endeavoring for peaceful solution. “We strictly believe in the rule of law and stand with true democratic norms”, he added.