ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the nation today at 4:30 pm to take it into confidence over measures against the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.
According to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, the prime minister has decided to address the public at 4:30 pm.
The PM’s decision to address the nation came after the situation in Lahore blew out of proportion on Sunday, resulting in multiple deaths as a result of violence.
On Sunday, TLP supporters ransacked a police station in Lahore and abducted at least 11 policemen along with a DSP. The hostages were released after talks with the protesters and the government also agreed to stop crackdown on the TLP for the time being.
The TLP has been staging a sit-in near Yateem Khana area of Lahore.
On Saturday, the government added Saad Rizvi, the head of TLP, to the Fourth Schedule and seized his assets days after banning the party. The passport of the TLP chief has also been blocked.
Last Monday, countrywide protests broke out following the arrest of TLP chief Saad Rizvi. Several offices and organisations were forced to close early on account of the intensity of the protests, with several workers stranded in offices.
The massive round of demonstrations came as a result of taking Rizvi into pre-emptive custody ahead of the 20 April deadline for the group’s demands to be put forth to the parliament. The government subsequently banned the TLP and started a crackdown on its leadership.
According to an agreement with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, the PTI government had to put their demands to the parliament which included policies like “expelling the French ambassador, severing ties with France and boycotting French products”, within three months through parliament.
