LAHORE: The government has started to implement the agreement signed with the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and released over 800 supporters arrested across Punjab.
The government had signed an accord with the proscribed outfit last Sunday under which the workers of the organisation who are not facing any criminal charges, were to be released, including their top leader Saad Rizvi.
The implementation of the agreement started after a meeting of the Steering Committee held on Monday, which was formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan to chalk out the modalities of implementing the deal between the government and the banned outfit.
Federal Minister Ali Mohammad Khan chaired the meeting which was attended by Minister for Law Punjab Raja Basharat, secretaries of the federal interior ministry, additional chief secretary of Home Department Punjab, and other officials, as well as some members of the TLP.
According to Home Department Punjab, 860 persons who were not facing any charges have been released across Punjab.
The meeting also decided to withdraw its appeal filed against the release of TLP leader Saad Rizvi. The government had challenged the order of a single bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding Rizvi’s release.
Agreement to be made public after 10 days
Meanwhile, talking to a private channel, Saylani Welfare Trust Chairman Maulana Bashir Farooqui, who was present and representing TLP during negotiations, said that the agreement cannot be made public before the 10th day of the deal even though its contents do not go against national interest.
News of the agreement between the government and TLP was announced Sunday in a press conference held by officials from the PTI government’s negotiating team.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser were present on behalf of the government at the press conference, while Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman was also present. Rehman began the news conference held in Islamabad, saying talks with the banned TLP had been “successful” and that an “agreement” had been reached.
He had said at the time, however, that details of the agreement will be revealed at a “suitable time”. He added that a positive outcome of the agreement will be seen in the coming days.
Farooqui said other signatories of the agreement included the NA speaker, FM Qureshi and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, besides members of the TLP shura.