Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has disclosed that the government will withdraw complaints against Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan workers by Tuesday. Until then, the demonstrations will continue.
Sheikh Rasheed in a press conference on Sunday (24 October) said, “We will also oversee the charges imposed under the 4th schedule.”
According to the National Counter Terrorism Authority, under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, an individual about whom credible intelligence information exists or who has a history of being linked to a banned organization can be proscribed by a province’s Home Department and subjected to travel, speech, and business restrictions.
Since Thursday, TLP members have been blocking highways in Lahore and Rawalpindi. They started their march towards Islamabad on Friday, demanding the release of the party’s heir, Saad Rizvi.
After eight hours of talks with the banned party, Rasheed said that TLP leaders will visit the interior ministry on Monday (October 25). He has directed the Rawalpindi and Islamabad district administrations to remove barricades off the roads.
The minister went on to say that he had a one-on-one conversation with Saad Rizvi and that the negotiations went well.
Sheikh Rasheed stated earlier in the day in an interview that the TLP has put forward three demands:
- The release of Saad Rizvi.
- Release of arrested TLP workers.
- Expulsion of the French ambassador.
The minister went on to say that the government will never go against religious parties. He further said that “The French ambassador is not in Pakistan presently. But we have assured the party that their demand will be taken to the National Assembly.”
