ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry briefed on the cabinet decision to not accede to any demands by the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) and stop their long march.
While briefing media, the federal minister said that “TLP is not a religious organisation but is a militant wing”. The minister said the cabinet had decided to deal with TLP like a militant outfit as it will allow the writ of the state to be challenegd.
He slammed the proscribed political party for blocking roads and for their protests. “They have already put up a show six times. The proscribed TLP cannot blackmail the state, it has no status. We have defeated terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda,” he said.
“No one should make the mistake of thinking that the state is weak. Those who made this mistake later realised they were wrong,” he said, adding the group has no status or access to arms like other terror groups.
The information minister noted that six police officials were martyred during the protest and asked till when would the state act as a silent spectator. “We don’t want bloodshed but some of their leaders don’t care about whether people are killed. They want to spill blood on the roads.”
He added that the proscribed group should not underestimate the writ of the state as the government had waited long enough. “A clear policy decision has been taken. The banned TLP will be treated as a militant party. We will not treat them as a political party.”
Chaudhry said several people joined the protesters with AK-47s in their hands. According to reports, at least three policemen were killed in fresh clashes between the TLP activists and law-enforcement agencies.
TLP’s demands rejected
The federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan has rejected the demands by the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) who has vowed to continue the march to Islamabad.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands. He issued directives to stop the long march planned by the banned outfit, saying that the government will not allow violence for political purposes.”
During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the law and order situation and the protest march by the banned outfit. The government has decided not to allow protesters to march beyond Jhelum. Earlier in the day, several police officers were injured in a clash with the workers of the banned political party in Sadhoke, district Gujranwala.
The prime minister said the government will not allow the long march under any circumstances and that no talks will be held with the banned organisation. “The government and the state are on one page regarding the protests,” he said during the meeting adding that the protesters will be “dealt with severely if they try to enter Islamabad.
