Talks with banned TLP: Govt to present resolution in NA for expulsion of French envoy says Sheikh Rashid

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 06 Jan 2023

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Tuesday said that the government would present a resolution in the National Assembly seeking the expulsion of the French envoy and withdraw cases against members of banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

A government delegation, comprising the interior minister, Minister for Religious Affairs Dr Noorul Haq Qadri, SAPM Tahir Ashrafi, Governor Punjab Mohammad Sarwar, and Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, held talks with members of the proscribed group in Lahore.

The interior minister, in a video statement, said the protests across Pakistan, including the one outside the headquarters of the religiopolitical group, will end.

Rashid said he would hold a press conference sometime later today to share details. “Talks will continue with them.”

He said that all cases, including those filed under the fourth schedule, against the members of banned TLP will also be withdrawn.

The resolution would not be tabled by the government. "The NA will debate whether to expel the French envoy or not." 

Ministers hold the third round of talks with outlawed TLP 

On Monday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the Punjab government and TLP second round of talks had concluded, hours after the first round was successful.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, earlier in the day, had announced that 11 policemen, who were taken hostage in Lahore by the banned party had been released after negotiations carried out by the Punjab government.

In a video statement, the interior minister said the “first round of talks” concluded in a "successful manner" after which the policemen were released and the protesters had gone inside the Masjid Rehmatulil Alameen.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar and Law Minister Raja Basharat represented the government in the second round of talks, the information minister said.

"The third round will be held at 10 pm, with Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri in attendance," he added.

All 16 police officials taken hostage on Sunday were released at 2:10 a.m. Monday morning, Rana Arif, the spokesperson for Lahore CCPO.

The four demands of the TLP included the release of their leader Saad Rivi, for TLP to be unbanned, all FIRs against their workers be dropped and a resolution be presented in the parliament to expel the French ambassador, the official added.

Yesterday, 36 policemen were injured in clashes with the rioters. Of which one is critical, Arif said.

The 16 hostages were kept in the basement of a mosque and tortured.

Sending ambassadors back will not end Islamophobia: PM Imran Khan

Before the talks, Prime Minister Imran Khan in an address to the nation reminded the nation that Pakistan was built on the principles of Islam. 

He stressed that the government is on the same page with the TLP regarding the protection of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s an honour, however, expelling the ambassador of France is not the solution to Islamophobia.

"The West has made this an issue of freedom of speech and if we send back the French ambassador, some other European country will follow suit," PM Imran Khan said.

He said that if Pakistan starts sending back ambassadors of different countries, the economy will suffer, but it would not make a difference to France or any other country.

Violent protests in Pakistan will not make a difference to France

The PM then talked about the violent countrywide protests that took place over the last few days and said that vandalising property will not reap any benefits.

Detailing the loss of lives, the number of people injured, and the damage done to properties during the protests, the PM said that the TLP believes it is the only party in the country that loves the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

"The government has been negotiating with the TLP for the last two-and-a-half months," the PM said, adding that the party have held protests before too but it did not make a difference to France.

"I know the West better than anyone else, so I know how to deal with the problem too," the PM stressed, adding that vandalising our own property, killing and injuring our own people will not make a difference to France at all.