LAHORE: The government has released the head of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Saad Rizvi, from jail after the “successful talks” between the banned outfit and the government delegation led by the interior minister, Sheikh Rasheed, according to police.
It is expected that the government will release hundreds of TLP workers soon in light of the agreement signed between the TLP leadership and Sheikh Rasheed.
While police insist that the detained TLP chief has been released, the jail authorities say they’re awaiting his release orders.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to table a resolution in parliament on whether to expel the French ambassador after violent protests by the Islamists demanding action over cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The release of the TLP head came after the interior minister announced in the wee hours that the government and the banned outfit have reached an agreement.
“After detailed discussions with TLP it has been agreed that the government will table the resolution in the National Assembly today,” he added. He said that the TLP had agreed to call off protests across the country. The cases registered against TLP workers under the Fourth Schedule will be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, situation is tense in Islamabad as the city braces itself for a likely TLP rally. The government already placed containers at the Faizabad Interchange in addition to sealing entry and exit points of Islamabad in a bid to stop the TLP from marching on the federal capital.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been put on high alert with the police and Rangers contingent deployed on important intersections. The security was increased in the light of clashes between police and the TLP workers in Lahore as well as the party’s protest call to reach Islamabad on April 20.
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.
However, the situation turned ugly, with clashes between police and the TLP workers resulting in the death of several people and injuries to hundreds.
