ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has criticized Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which held protests in various cities of Pakistan against the detention of its chief, saying that the designs of the religious party for Pakistan were dangerous.
Addressing a press conference along with Minister for Religious Affairs Noor ul Haq Qadri, the Interior Minister said, “They were adamant on coming at the Faizabad Interchange for the fourth time. This is why we took decisions to prevent that.”
Rashid said the violence was unfortunate as the government was willing to negotiate with protesters. “The government had not backed away from its promise to present a resolution of the religious party’s demands in Parliament,” he added.
He further said that the reaction from the party after the arrest of a leader could not be justified. “The reaction was neither in harmony with what our religion says nor what our Constitution says,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, he also announced that the notification for the banning of the TLP will be issued soon and another summary for the dissolution of the party will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
He said the summary has been approved, by circulation, has been approved by the federal cabinet and the Order of Proscription of TLP would be issued soon.
He also lauded the services of police and other law-enforcement personnel to restore peace, saying as many as 580 police personnel had sustained injuries and at least 30 cars had been destroyed during the violence.
“No leniency would be tolerated and all those involved in creating the law and order situation would be dealt with,” the interior minister concluded.
Earlier, PM Imran Khan and the federal cabinet approved a summary seeking a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) under the anti-terrorism law. After the summary was approved, the cabinet started work on the declaration of the TLP’s ban. The government will present the declaration of the ban in the Supreme Court.
