ISLAMABAD: After the Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid voluntary resigned late Sunday, government officials and the Faizabad protesters reached an agreement on Monday to end the sit-in being held at Islamabad’s Faizabad interchange.
TLY leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi has also ordered his followers all over the country to end the sit-ins and go home. He also announced an end to the strike being observed today and called for opening businesses and shops.
The agreement states that the government is to release a report made by the committee set-up to find out who made the amendment and why was the Finality of Prophethood declaration amended for the electoral candidates in the Elections Act 2017 and there is also a clause to hold the person or party accountable for such an error.
It also includes the condition that the workers of religious parties that have been arrested since November 6, 2017, be released and cases registered against them be dismissed.
It is also stated in the agreement that an inquiry board will be set up to probe the events surrounding the government action against protesters on November 25 and fix responsibility.
The document credits Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and his representative team for their “special efforts” that led to the agreement being signed.
“We are thankful to him [Gen Bajwa] for saving the nation from a big catastrophe,” the document concludes.
Late Sunday night, Zahid Hamid voluntarily stepped down. the minister tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, which is expected to be accepted later today.It is pertinent to mention here that the protesters’ first demand was the resignation of the law minister.
PM, COAS agree to avoid use of force
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday decided against the use of force to disperse protesters in Islamabad. The top military and civilian leaders have agreed to engage in political negotiations with agitators in the capital.
As agitation in the federal capital enters the second day, a high-level meeting was underway at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad to discuss the law and order situation in the capital, media reports said on Sunday.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence were also present in the meeting.
Punjab Rangers in the lead
Punjab Rangers on Sunday were called in by the federal government to clear the Faizabad area occupied by the protesters.
They are given the task of handling the agitated law and order situation prevailing in Islamabad.
Punjab Rangers DG Maj Gen Azhar Naveed was in charge of the whole operation, a notification issued by the ministry of interior stated.
Around 1,000 Rangers personnel, who were deployed in the capital yesterday, were repositioned to the frontlines of the security operation.
Military seeks clarification before assisting government
Replying to federal government’s request to the military to deploy its troops in Islamabad to restore peace, Army on Sunday said that it is “fully ready” to assist the government in an operation against protesters.
On Saturday, after a day-long operation against the agitators, the Interior Ministry had sent out a formal requisition for the deployment of military troops in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Responding to government’s request, military officials sent a letter to the ministry of interior, saying the army was fully ready to discharge its constitutional responsibility of assisting the government.
However, the letter states that before troops are deployed, there are a “few aspects meriting deliberation”, such as how the “police has not been utilized to its full capacity” in dealing with the religious protesters.
It points out that “the Pakistan Rangers have not been given written instructions.”
Citing orders passed by the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court earlier this week, the letter also highlights that the Army is not a force traditionally used to disperse crowds or protesters. The statement has then asked for a clarification on the matter.
On Saturday, as the government continued its crackdown on agitators, DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor took to Twitter and stated that violence would be against national interest and cohesion and quoting the COAS said the issue should be resolved peacefully.
