Govt, TLP strike 13-point agreement to defuse crises
Mufti Muneeb says accord features will be disclosed at appropriate time: Steering Committee to monitor implementation: Qureshi says NSC preferred dialogue to use of force
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After involving into a marathon session of long negotiations, the government and the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik leaders have reached a consensus with Mufti Muneebur Rahman pronouncing that an agreement has been reached between the two thus heralding the end of more than a week-long face-off between the government and the activists of the banned outfit, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
TLP members came to Islamabad and signed the 13-point agreement with the government team on Sunday afternoon. After that they went to the Press Information Department to hold a joint presser with the government team.
While addressing the presser which was supposed to be held in the noon but hit a few hours delay owing to the late arrival of the banned TLP Shura members, former chairman Ruet-Hilal Mufti Muneeb and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi beamed to announce that things had been sorted out amicably.
The Mufti informed that the government decided to form a 3-member committee headed by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and comprising of Punjab Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Muhammad Bisharat Raja and Interior Secretary to oversee the implementation of conditions reached in the agreement.
He said Ghulam Ghous Baghdadi and Engineer Rafiq Ullah would be the members of the committee. He was of the view that this agreement was a win-win situation for everyone as it was concluded to avoid bloodshed and all parties acted to bring it into effect in the best interest of the country.
Mufti Muneeb disclosed that the head of religious outfit Saad Rizvi did fully endorse the agreement. He stated that the talks between the government team and TLP were held in a somber, serious, responsible and free manner.
“Everyone contributed in it,” the Mufti said adding that in order to make it happen, both the teams held a marathon session of parleys stretching on a span of 12-13 hours in a row. He was of the opinion that use of force against our own people was no option.
Despite his a quarter-hour long harangue, the Mufti eschewed to divulge the details of the agreement. He was content enough to tell the audience that the details of the agreement would be divulged later adding that the effectiveness of the agreement would start appearing in a week or 10 days’ time. He was of the opinion that it was a binding agreement and it would not be scuttled and it would be implemented.
He thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan who empowered the talk committee and reposed confidence in it. He also expressed his gratitude to the TLP Shura members including Mufti Muhammad Azhari, Muhammad Hafiz, Ghulam Abbas Faizi who worked hard to make these talks successful.
At the outset of his speech, Mufti Muneeb prayed for the martyred policemen who laid down their lives for the defence of this country and for those who sacrificed their lives for the honour of Prophet (PBUH).
Addressing the presser, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi revealed that in Friday’s National Security Committee meeting, both civil and military leadership decided to resolve the issue with reason, not with force. He said if the protest prolonged, it would have serious implication viz-a-viz human efforts, economy and every aspect of life in the country. He said he saw loss of life, disturbance in business activity and patients dying in ambulances due to road blockades. He opined it would have been terrible if the protest lingered any longer.
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He expressed his gratitude to all the Ulema including Mufti Muneeb, Bashir Farooq Qadri, Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, Sahibzada Hamid Raza and everyone who played their role in the success of these talks and helped to bring this country out of crisis.
The minister refused to take any question during the press conference by saying no question, answer at this time.
After the press conference, Salyani Welfare Trust Chairman Maulana Bashir Farooqi while talking to 24NewsHD said that the TLP sit-in would be ended today (God willing). The copy of the agreement would be opened as per the law.
He said that Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa wanted 1,000% to restore peace in the country. He said the Army Chief was not in favour of using force rather he wanted to resolve the issue through talks. Thank God, with his blessings everything went well, he said adding the Army Chief was 1,000% involved in bringing this agreement into force.