Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman has said that talks with the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have been “successful” and that an “agreement” has been reached.
He was addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday along with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser after negotiating with the TLP on behalf of the government.
Mufti Muneeb, however, refused to give details of the agreement saying “they will be revealed at a suitable time.”
The positive outcomes of the agreement would be seen in the coming days, he added.
He said that the agreement was “not a victory or defeat of any individual, but a victory of Islam and Pakistan.”
He said that a steering committee has been constituted under the agreement which will be headed by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, while Mufti Ghulam Ghous Baghdadi from TLP will be its member.
He said the committee will become active from today and start its work.
“The government of Pakistan and the TLP had a detailed discussion under the environment of mutual trust, and an agreement has been reached between the two sides,” Mufti Muneeb announced, clarifying that the talks did not take place under any duress or in an atmosphere of tension.
He said that better sense prevailed over sentiments and a consensus has been reached.
Earlier, it was stated that the activists of the banned TLP will first end their sit-in from the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road), under the agreement. And in the meanwhile, the government will complete legal formalities to release the arrested workers of TLP.
It is learnt that talks were held last night between the high-powered government team and the top leadership of the TLP.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefly spoke after Mufti Muneeb and said that it was decided in a meeting of the National Security Committee that the talks with the TLP should be given priority and that the problem should be dealt with wisely.
Speaking about the agreement, Qureshi said that a path to peace and had been found. Damage to property and loss of life was seen in just a few days, referring to the banned outfit’s protests, he added.
He said Pakistan did not benefit from the chaos.
TLP SAYS TOO EARLY TO CLAIM TALKS SUCCESS: Meanwhile, rejecting the media reports on the talks with the government, spokesperson for the banned TLP said that it would be “too early to say anything about the negotiation”.
He urged people to “refrain from spreading rumours” and clarified that negotiations with the government were still underway.
“There is no truth in the reports being aired on TV channels about the successful dialogue,” he added.
The TLP spokesperson said that the success or failure of the talks with the government will be announced by his party leadership.
PROTESTS: Meanwhile, thousands of TLP supporters have been reached near Wazirabad.
The marchers entered Gujranwala on Friday where the Rangers drew a red line warning them against crossing it. It was 500 meters from the Chenab toll plaza. A banner was put up by the security forces that read: “Beyond this line, the responsibility for law and order lies with Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), who have been given the authority to open fire at the miscreants so all people are strictly warned to return to their homes”.
Mobile phone and internet services in Gujranwala have been suspended.
