Faizabad deadlock: Fourth round of talks between govt, protesters underway
Both the right-wing movements occupied Faizabad Interchange late October
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Fourth round of talks between the government and 17-member committee of protesters belonging to Sunni Tehreek and Tehreek Labbaik Ra Rasool Allah is underway after three consecutive failed attempts to resolve the crisis.
The government has extended the deadline granted earlier to the protesing bodies by 24 hours.
Contingents of Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Corps (FC) were doubled in number while some entry points of Islamabad were sealed last night as the ultimatum granted by Islamabad High Court (IHC) expired at 10:00pm on Friday.
Both the right-wing movements occupied Faizabad Interchange and camped in the outskirts of the federal capital late October following a controversial amendment in the Elections Act 2017.
The protesting bodies have demanded law minister Zahid Hamid to tender his resignation, vowing to continue the sit-protest in Islamabad until the demand is met.
In the new form-A, 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, Senate on Friday approved reversal of the changes made in the Act. It should be mentioned here that Speaker of National Assembly (NA) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had branded the changes in Form-A ‘clearical mistake’.
Playing his part to end Faizabad deadlock, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman has urged the government to send an authorized official for negotiation with the religious parties that are protesting in Faizabad.
Addressing a press conference, Mufti Muneeb said that the issue should be resolved without harming any human being. Pakistan can’t afford any mishap, he added.
