Faizabad sit-in: Talks between govt, protesting committee underway in Punjab House
Sources said that other options will be taken under consideration in case negotiations fail.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The delegation of the government is on Monday holding negotiations with the protesting committee that is staging sit-in at Faizabad Inchange in Islamabad.
In another effort to call off the protest in a peaceful way, Punjab Law minister Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and Law Minister Zahid Hamid have called on the leaders of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan and Sunni Tehreek.
Also Read: IHC gives interior minister 48-hour deadline to end Faizabad sit-in
Sources said that other options will be taken under consideration in case negotiations fail.
On the other hand, heavy contingent of Rangers, Frontier Corps and police are deployed in the area whereas armored vehicles, prison vans and ambulances are also present. Administration of the twin cities had earlier delayed decision to use force against protesters after fourth round of talks ended at residence of Raja Zafarul Haq last night.
Protesting bodies represented by Dr Shafiq Ameeni, Sheikh Azhar and Pir Ijaz Sherani convened the fourth round of talks at Raja Zafarul Haq’s residence with the government and returned to the protesting site. Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar among others represented the delegation of the government while a cleric from Golara Sharif Ghulamulddin Jami mediated the talks.
The locals of the twin cities are under a miserable scenario as the sit-in has shut down Faizabad interchange from all the sides, forcing locals to reach their destination through long routes and in entended hours instead of minutes. Disrupted traffic flow and vehicles jamming on the alternative routes have also become a routine.
Moreover, mobile services in I-8 and Faizabad remain suspended creating problems for the people. Till date, police has registered at least 17 cases against the protesters including assault on security personnel.
The protesting bodies have vowed to continue the sit-in protest until law minister Zahid Hamid tenders his resignation for a ‘clerical mistake’ in amendment that was brought to Elections Act 2017.
In the then revised form-A of nomination papers, the words “I solemnly swear” were replaced with “I believe” and the clause relating to Khatm-i-Naboowat was made applicable to non-Muslim candidates.
However, the change was branded a clerical mistake by National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and the government had vowed immediate rectification of the alleged mistake.
The Senate had approved reversal of the changes made earlier.
Nonetheless, the protesters who camped in the outskirts of Islamabad and at Faizabad M2 interchange late October are adamant for the law minister to resign.
