Saad Rizvi to be freed as govt, TLP sort out all issues

All the issues between the government and proscribed Tahreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan have been sorted out during the final round of talks held on Sunday but the final announcement of the agreement faces a few hours delay due to the late arrival of some of the banned party’s leaders, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, former chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Munib-ur-Rehman and members of proscribed TLP Shura were supposed to apprise the nation of the nitty-gritty of the talks during a presser but the talks hit a few hours delay as the banned TLP Shura members had been stuck in traffic.

Later, the TLP leaders reached Islamabad where they inked the agreement and took part in presser at the PID which was only addressed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quresh and Mufti Muneefbur Rehman.

Earlier, the Shura members who were coming from Wazirabad were held up in a traffic snarl and could not make it to Islamabad in the morning when they were due to take part in the joint press conference with the government team. 

Sources have informed that thorny issues between the government and outlawed TLP have been resolved. Interior Secretary Yousouf Naseem has been tasked to implement all the conditions reached between the two parties. 

Sources say, first of all the banned party activists would wind up their protest on the GT Road and return. Then the government will release the arrested TLP men after completing all the legal aspects. 

Sources said that the government permitted the proscribed TLP to continue its political activities. The banned outfit activists have been asked to clear the roads immediately. The government has told the TLP that the Tehreek will not involve in any kind of sit-ins and politics of violence in the future. 

Sources further divulge that the government would adopt step-by-step approach keeping in view the international rules and regulations. 

According to sources, Mufti Muneeb has played a pivotal role in the consultation between leaders of religious parties and government and military officials. 

A 12-member committee under the head of Sahibzada Hamid Raza has been holding consultations with President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan for the last two days.

Sources have revealed that the agreement between the government and the proscribed TLP has been reached. It has been decided to release TLP Chief Saad Rizvi but the banned party head will be kept in house-arrest for few months. The names included in the Schedule 4 will be stricken out. 

Sources further said that Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry have been excluded from the final round of talks. 

Also Read: Govt, TLP strike 13-point agreement to defuse crises

The government and the TLP entered into negotiations last night and it seemed that the parleys were almost successful. All the issues were resolved amicably and the final round of talks between the negotiation committee of the government and the TLP is still underway to finalise the details that could be resulted in another agreement of the government with the banned outfit.

The government inducted three new members into its 12-member committee and also included Khawaja Ghulam Qutubuddin, Sheikhul Hadith Allma Rafiq Ahmad Majadadai and Maulana Sardar Wazirul Qadri in the negotiation team.

Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday showed his willingness to conditionally release the banned religious outfit TLP Chief Saad Rizvi.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, in a meeting with the Ulema of Bralvi school of thought at his residence in Bani Gala, the PM said he had no objection to Saad Rizvi’s release if courts release him.

The sources said Ulema urged the PM to release the TLP chief and take action against the statements of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry that could sabotage negotiations.

PM Imran while talking to Ulema on the demand of expulsion of the French ambassador said it was not the solution but there was a need to acknowledge the world that blasphemy hurts Muslims.

On Saturday, talking to media after attending a meeting of government and religious scholars belonging to the Barelvi school of thought and chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said the committee was in talks with the government and proscribed leaders.

The Federal Minister said that religious leaders from all over the country met the Prime Minister and expressed their determination to resolve the issue peacefully.

The Federal Minister said that the Prime Minister also told the Ulema that their suggestions would also be considered, which could save the country from bloodshed.

In reply to another question about making negotiations conditional to TLP protesters not moving towards Islamabad, he said "it could sabotage the negotiations."

For his part, President Sunni Ittehad Council (Faisalabad) Sahibzada Hamid Raza said the prime minister had assured the meeting's participants that the government would not use "torture" to curtail the protests.

Raza said the prime minister told the meeting that he did not wish to see bloodshed in the country, but noted that there would be "no compromise when it came to the writ of the state."

Reporter Awais Kiyani