Another policeman succumbs to injuries as TLP protesters remain defiant  

Another police constable succumbed to his injuries Thursday who got injured during the clashes with the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Constable Ghulam Rasool was got critically injured during clashes with the TLP workers in Muridke who are trying to head towards Islamabad to stage a sit-in and press for their demands.

Constable Ghulam Rasool was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, the funeral players of another police official ASI Malik Akbar had been offered at his ancestral village Alim Wala where hundreds of people including police high ups attended the funeral prayers. The martyred was also given a gun salute before his funeral prayers.

On the other hand, the talks between the local administration and the TLP failed and another round of talks would be held shortly between high level officials and main leadership of the TLP shortly.

The government has also put the security of the red zone on high alert and deployed Rangers, FC and police contingents in the Red Zone area. According to the administration, all the exit and entry points of the Red Zone would be sealed.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court has fixed a petition for hearing tomorrow against the police highhandedness and torture on the defunct religious party TLP workers. The petition has been filed by the Shuhada Foundation seeking action against the police for resorting to torture by declaring the police torture illegal and unconstitutional. Justice Amir Farooq will hear the petition.

 Earlier, the latest round of negotiations between the government and the leaders of outlawed TLP has ended without result and the security forces have been put on alert for halting the long march at Wazirabad.

According to the sources, relevant security institutions have been issued instructions about forcibly stopping the protesters in Wazirabad.

Sources said it has been conveyed to the TLP if they go back then the release of Saad Hussain Rizvi and other issues will be discussed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkLBhtu3nNg

Earlier, the government team and the leaders of outlawed Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had entered into a fresh round of talks in Lahore. The fresh negotiations came on Thursday amid the TLP’s long march crawling towards Islamabad from Gujranwala.

According to sources, the government team comprised of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Buzdar Ahmad, Law Minister Raja Basharat and others. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad and Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri were also in contact on the telephone.

The sources further divulged that the government team handed the TLP leaders proposal to go back and reopen the roads.

On the ground, the GT Road was still closed for all kind of traffic as the administration has put up containers in Kamonki, Gujranwala and Jhelum due to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik’s long march towards Islamabad.

As per details, a large number of police force was deployed in Kamonki, Gujranwala and Jehlum. The commuters are facing extreme problems due to the blockage of many roads. Several roads in Islamabad have also been closed. 

The rally of the proscribed TLP could depart from Kamonki anytime. The marchers will head to Islamabad from Gujranwala. The Gujranwala administration has removed obstacles from Chan Da Qila Chowk and traffic started running smoothly. 

Yesterday, protests of the banned religious organization TLP became more violent and four policemen were martyred in clashes with the protesters. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government deployed rangers in Punjab for the next 60 days to tackle the TLP’s violence.

Inspector General Punjab Police on Wednesday evening held a press conference and confirmed that four policemen had embraced Shahadat in clashes with the violent protesters of TLP at GT Road.

He said that shots had been firmed by the TLP’s armed workers and resultantly, 263 personnel were also injured. He raised the question that the TLP should tell the masses that either the policemen were not the devotees of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW).

The IG Police also called back all 15,000 policemen deputed to halt the long march of the TLP workers after the notification of deployment of rangers in Punjab.

Prime Minister Imran Khan refused to accept the demands of The TLP activists. While presiding over the Federal Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the premier instructed the law enforcement agencies to deal strictly with the elements who blocked the ways. He was of the view that political activists did not martyr policemen, rather it was the work of terrorists only. 

The prime minister stated categorically that the writ of the state must be restored. 

After the cabinet meeting, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry held a media briefing and categorically stated that the TLP was not a political but a terrorist organization.

He said that the TLP had already done this drama of protest six times and wanted bloodshed on the streets for their own interest.

Fawad said that government would constitute its writ in any case and those who would challenge the state writ would not be tolerated.

He said that his government would deal with the TLP as an extremist organization, adding that no one could dare to blackmail the state of Pakistan.

The information minister also warned that no one state should make the mistake of considering Pakistan a weak country.

Fawad said the TLP was being supported by India through social media and it was also involved in spreading fake news.

He said that they had information about 27 armed men having Kalashnikovs had joined the sit-in in Muredke.

The Information Minister said that it was decided in the cabinet meeting that no one would be allowed to impose his agenda by force.

He said the TLP had already martyred 6 policemen during the last protest and three had embraced Shahadat in recent protest.

He advised the TLP that it should review its attitude toward spreading false news on social media.

Reporter Zahid Iqbal