ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday constituted a three-member committee to negotiate with proscribed organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), after violent protests left more than five people dead in the provincial capital.
According to details, the government’s negotiation team will comprise Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Religious Minister Noorul Haq Qadri and Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Raja Basharat.
Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with Religious Minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri to discuss the prevailing law and order situation. Talks between the two focused on the banned outfit’s protests.
On the directives of the prime minister, Noorul Haq Qadri arrived in Lahore from Karachi to hold negotiations with the banned outfit. “The government believes in resolving issues through dialogue,” said Qadri, adding that protecting lives and properties is the government’s top priority.
Earlier, PM Imran Khan had also directed Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid to return to the country from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he had gone to watch India-Pakistan’s high-voltage T20 World Cup clash.
The minister, who arrived on a special plane to the provincial capital to lead the dialogue with the TLP leadership, is chairing a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation in the wake of the bloody protests.
The meeting is being attended by Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri, Kashmir Affairs Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, the police chief of Punjab among other officials.
‘Security situation’
Meanwhile, the security situation in Lahore and Rawalpindi remains tense due to clashes between the TLP and law enforcement personnel. The clashes have resulted in the death of three policemen and two Labbaik workers.
However, in a statement issued around noon, TLP leader Mufti Wazir Rizvi claimed that the Lahore police used tear gas on asleep party workers and also alleged that TLP workers came under ‘straight firing’ from the police.
The police operation on Saturday has resulted in at least one fatality, he said, adding that the bodies of the deceased TLP men will accompany the banned outfit to Islamabad.
In Rawalpindi, a curfew-like situation was witnessed as authorities concerned placed containers and other obstacles on various routes, including Murree Road. The district administration has also deployed heavy contingents of police along Murree Road, which has been completely sealed from Marir Chowk to Faizabad Interchange.
Schools, offices, and markets are closed in the vicinity of the main artery that connects Pindi to Islamabad, while residents of the area have been stranded due to the blockades.
The Metro Bus service and public transport have been suspended as the violent protests entered the second day. Rangers have taken control of the metro tracks to keep the TLP workers at bay.
‘Talks failed’
The Punjab government had formed a committee on Friday, comprising provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat and Prosecution Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, for talks with the banned outfit.
“We have formed a committee consisting of senior members of the Punjab cabinet Raja Basharat Sahib and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Sahib to negotiate with Tehreek-e-Labbaik,” Buzdar had said in a tweet. However, so far, the talks between the two sides have remained inconclusive.
