The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has resumed its march towards Islamabad after talks between the banned outfit and the government hit a snag over the issue of the expulsion of France’s envoy to Pakistan, reports Tribune.
The government said that it was ready to accept all demands of the TLP, including the release of its leader Saad Rizvi, but it cannot ask the French envoy to leave the country as this would damage ties with the European Union.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, who had led the talks from the government’s side, said that the government agreed to all but one demand, but the banned outfit still did not end the protest sit-in in Muridke.
The TLP had earlier called off its march to Islamabad and decided to halt at Muridke after Rashid assured them the government would meet their demands. TLP had stated that they would stay in Muridke peacefully till the acceptance of their demands and in case of the failure of talks, will resume their march towards the federal capital.
As of today, a rally with more than eight thousand TLP supporters left Murdike for Islamabad with the government deploying heavy contingents of law enforcers to stop them. Trenches have been dug on GT Road ahead of Chenab River to stop the protesters from marching forward.
TLP Central Committee member Wazir Ali alleged that the government was not serious in meeting the demands of the banned outfit despite “successful talks”. He said the TLP would not back down on its demands.
He said the TLP march would remain “peaceful”, but if the police used force against the workers of the banned outfit, the party would go on a countrywide strike.
Meanwhile, the government has taken more measures to stop the protesters from reaching the capital. As per sources, the Punjab government has also imposed a temporary ban on buses plying on GT Road.
