(Islamabad) The federal government on Sunday declared that the
Tehreek e Labaik Pakistan (TLP) had decided to call off its protest after prolonged
negotiations in Islamabad. However; the TLP leadership gave the impression that
the protest had not been called off. Sources in the TLP told The News that the
final decision would be made after a meeting with their leadership. Federal
Minister for Religious Affairs Noor ul Haq Qadri led the government delegation;
while the TLP six member delegation was led by Sahibzada Saad Rizvi; son of
Khadim Hussain Rizvi; and eight other leaders. Earlier; Mohammad Abdulla Hamid
Gul held a two hour long meeting with Khadim Rizvi. The details of the
agreement signed by both the parties have not been released. Meanwhile;
hundreds of TLP angry protesters finally took control of the Faizabad Flyover
and Islamabad Expressway to stage a sit in following a heavy clash with the law
enforcing forces. Over 250 people; including protesters and policemen,
sustained serious and minor injuries during the clash and were Meanwhile;
hundreds of TLP angry protesters finally took control of the Faizabad Flyover and
Islamabad Expressway to stage a sit-in following a heavy clash with the law
enforcing forces. ‘The second day aggression from the mob was more treacherous
than yesterday;’ remarked a police officer commanding the Rawalpindi police
contingent while talking to his colleague. Over 250 people; including
protesters and policemen; sustained serious and minor injuries during the clash
and were shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital and other private hospitals. ‘A
precise figure cannot be estimated at this stage; however; the rough estimate
is about 300;’ an officer said when asked. Heavy contingents of law enforcement
agencies of the Punjab and federal capital territory Rawalpindi and Islamabad tried to intercept the mob marching towards
their declared destination of Faizabad from different directions but the forces
failed to stop them. In the violent protest demonstration, the angry mob
ransacked the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The TLP activists
initiated clash with the police and started pelting stones when the forces
appeared on the interchange at about 9am. The police retaliated and fired
hundreds of teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Consequently, the mob
scattered and took shelter at safer places but didn’t disperse. The mob
paralyzed the communication system as well as the movement between the twin
cities. People travelling between Rawalpindi and Islamabad faced difficulties
in crossing the Faizabad flyover. Many students failed to reach the examination
centres. The mob had already stocked stones and bricks to counter the police
attack. Thousands of TLP activists occupied the Islamabad Highway, Faizabad
Flyover; Murree Road; IJP Road and other arteries around Faizabad and pelted
stones at the police. The police arrested about 100 protesting people and
shifted them to the lockups of different police stations; a police officer
said. The Punjab police; in the second phase of the battle; called in water
cannons to disperse the mob. The water cannons were installed at different
places. The Punjab police were ready to conduct the final phase of the clash
and to disperse the mob at every cost after mid-night. Equipped with the
required stuff; they were all set for the operation. Heavy contingents of
police; anti riot force; Rangers and other law enforcement agencies and jail
vans were ready to shift the arrested people to lockups, while the protesting
people gathered batons, iron rods and stones and bricks around them. An
official of the ICT police said the Rawalpindi police adopted a wrong strategy
and pushed the mob in the jurisdiction of federal capital causing problems to
them. The TLP leadership called for breaking diplomatic relations with France
and closure of the French embassy in Islamabad.
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