'This is just a firefighting, not cure': Fawad Ch on agreement with TLP protesters
The minister says we need to take steps against extremism
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Responding to a question regarding the government s agreement with Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry termed the move a firefighting.
In his interview with British Broadcasting Company (BBC), he said that this is a temporary solution to the problem but we need to come up with a permanent solution.
The minister said that we need to take steps against extremism, adding that the government was committed to resolving problems.
"We need to take steps against extremism, we need to take steps against such kind of violent protesters and we need to come up with a permanent solution. Right now this is not a cure. This is firefighting, what we are doing. The cure is the real thing and our government is committed to the cure."
Chaudhry went on to say that the courts would decide whether or not to put Asia Bibi on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Govt to take action against those involved in vandalism
Minister of State for Communications, Murad Saeed said that the government has decided to take action against those involved in vandalism during the countrywide protests after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi in the blasphemy case.
The state minister said that action will be taken against those involved in damaging the properties of National Highway Authority (NHA), adding that the departments including Interior Ministry have been asked to help identify elements behind vandalizing the properties.
“The videos and photographs made after Supreme Court’s verdict would be reviewed,” Murad said.
Pakistan’s constitution allows to hold peaceful demonstrations, he said and added the announcement of having no links with these elements by the protest leaders was a welcoming step.
The minister went on to say that no one can be allowed to damage the public and private properties at the other hand.
TLP calls off sit-in
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.
Sit-ins, protests inflict loss of Rs150bn
The country’s economy suffered a loss of Rs150 billion as the economic activities across the country are at standstill for the last three days in wake of countrywide protests after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi in the blasphemy case.
The protests being largely led by the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party have spread uncertainty leading to the shutting down of business and trade activities across the country.
During the three day course of routine-life crippling protests, economic activities came to standstill across country inflicting mammoth loss on national exchequer.
Besides closure of educational institutes, the country witnessed shortage of petrol and food. The major thoroughfares of Lahore including historic Mall road and Ferozepur road are filled with litter. Enraged hooligans wreaked havoc on public properties, torched bikes and cars.
According to a rough estimate by financial analysts, the sit-ins have inflicted a mammoth loss of Rs150 billion on national exchequer at time when country is already passing through one of the worst economic quagmire of its history.
