Govt orders action against protestors who vandalised public property

The interior ministry has asked for footages of people involved in vandalism.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi on Saturday said that the government has decided to launch crackdown against protesters who vandalized the public property and injured innocent citizens in the garb of peaceful protests against the Supreme Court decision in Asia Bibi case.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi was given a detailed briefing by different agencies on the situation.

Cyber Wing of Federal Investigation Agency and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority were reviewing the inflammatory content on social media. Both the agencies have been directed to obtain forensic data of miscreants.

Afridi said that the Ulema-e-Karam have assured the government that the vandalism was done by miscreants who were not part of their ranks.

He said action will be taken against those who were spreading contents based on hate and violence, adding that the details of damages have also been sought from Punjab government and other institutions.

“The interior ministry has also asked for footages of people involved in vandalism,” the state minister said and added the elements will be identified through footages and arrests will be made.

On the other hand, the supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were booked on Saturday on charges of rioting and disrupting peace in various parts of Lahore.

 In Islamabad, First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against more than 100 unknown suspects while 20 persons of religious parties also included in the cases.

According to details, it has also been mentioned in the FIRs that security personnel were attacked when they asked them [demonstrators] not to damage the vehicles, however, enraged protestors also trespassed government s activities and damaged governmental and private properties.

Source further added that section-144, terrorism, and attacking on police personnel were also included in FIRs.

On the other hand, in provincial capital of Punjab, Lahore, more than 10 cases have been registered against the hate speeches, treason, damaging property, while more than 50 persons has been arrested so far.

Earlier, Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had announced to end the sit-in protests against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi in blasphemy case after reaching a five point agreement with the government late last night.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Patron in Chief TLP Peer Muhammad Afzal Qadri said that his party had reached a five-point agreement with the government while some verbal points were also agreed upon to call off the sit-in.

The agreement to this effect had been signed by Minister of Religious Affairs Dr Noor ul Haq Qadri and Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat from the government side.

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan Patron in Chief Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri and Central Nazim Muhammad Waheed Noor also signed the document on behalf of their organization.

According to agreement, a review appeal has been filed in the case of Asia Bibi which is the legal right of complainants and government will have no objection on it.

Immediate legal action will be taken on deaths, if any, in the movement against the acquittal of Asia Bibi. The agreement adds that people who have been arrested against the acquittal of Asia Masih from October 30th onwards will be immediately released.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) political party, led by Khadim Rizvi, organised rallies in cities across the South Asian country on Thursday, despite a warning from Prime Minister Imran Khan not to "force the government to have to take action".

Aasia Bibi, 53, who was on death row for eight years, was acquitted by the country s top court on Wednesday, with judges saying the prosecution contained "glaring and stark" contradictions.

Shortly after the Supreme Court s landmark ruling was pronounced, Rizvi led a major protest outside government buildings in the eastern city of Lahore, with fellow TLP leaders declaring the three judges who acquitted Bibi to be "liable to be killed".

The sit-in protest in Lahore remained the largest TLP demonstration on Thursday, with other major demonstrations being held in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistan s largest. Protesters were also blockading a major highway into the capital, Islamabad.

Most schools and many businesses remained closed in all three cities through the day, with hospitals on high alert in case the protests turned violent. Highways were partially shut down and the federal cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss the law and order situation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a televised address to the nation, accused the TLP of attempting to stir religious sentiments for political gains. "I say to these people: do not confront this state ... do not damage this country for your vote bank," said Khan. "If you do this, I promise that the government will do its duty … I ask you: do not force the government to have to take action," he added.