ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan protesters (TLP) today cleared GT Road in the backdrop of their agreement with the government, but they maintained sit-in in a ground in Wazirabad, waiting of the release of their leader Saad Rizvi.
The federal government and TLP signed agreement on Sunday (Oct 31), resultantly, the TLP supporters vacated Grand Trunk (GT) Road and Allah Wala Chowk. However, they pitched tents at a nearby ground and said they would stage a sit-in until TLP chief Saad Rizvi is released. Rizvi was detained by police under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance on April 12 and remains incarcerated.
Meanwhile, roads leading to the inner city were opened. However, traffic was not restored at the Chenab Toll Plaza where police and Rangers were still deployed and roads leading to Gujrat and Sialkot also remained blocked.
Security officials said that the ditches dug up along GT Road to dissuade the protesters from marching to Islamabad will be filled up once they receive orders from higher-ups.
Traffic on GT Road remained suspended and cars and trucks remained stuck, while internet services also continued to be disrupted. A steering committee headed by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan also met in Lahore to oversee the implementation of the agreement.
PTI Minister said that GT Road had been cleared after TLP protesters moved to an open ground in Wazirabad away from traffic “as per the agreement”.
“I appreciate the TLP leadership for honouring their commitment and the government is already implementing its side of the agreement since last night,” the minister said.
Govt, TLP ink deal to end impasse
On Sunday, members of the negotiating team from the government side on Sunday claimed that they had reached an “agreement” with the proscribed group in order to end the nearly two-week-long impasse, but refused to divulge its details.
“The government of Pakistan and the TLP held detailed negotiations in an environment of mutual trust and an agreement has been reached between the two sides,” Mufti Muneebur Rehman announced at a press conference.
He was accompanied by the government’s negotiating team members Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan.
Mufti Muneeb, who facilitated the talks along with some other religious leaders in their individual capacity, said the agreement had the backing of jailed TLP chief Saad Rizvi. Mufti Umair Al-Azhari, Allama Ghulam Abbas Faizi and Hafiz Hafeez participated in the negotiations from the TLP side, he added.
Some TLP representatives were present at the presser, but they remained silent. Mufti Muneeb, nevertheless, said its details would be made public at an “appropriate time”.
