A media briefing held late on Friday evening was told that the government and security establishment would not allow any organization to challenge the writ of the state and use of violence by any group for political ends would not be tolerated.
A united response was needed to counter the unfolding situation in the Punjab where banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have blocked the main roads calls as they head towards the federal capital, the meeting was told.
A senior security official dismissed conspiracies about the protest being staged internally to create a wedge between civilian and military leadership. According to reports in the press, the officer also denied any previous links between the banned outfit and security or political establishment.
Later, a minister later told newsmen that 27 TLP financiers had been identified and said that the list would be made public soon.
Security officials told journalists that Punjab Rangers were neither equipped nor trained to act like law enforcement personnel. Any clash with the Rangers could present a dangerous situation and if any fatalities were suffered by the TLP in these clashes, the situation would worsen. It was mentioned that incidents like these had sparked the Arab Spring in the Middle East. The meeting was told that a narrative of unity must be presented to the public in which using religion for political ends must be shunned.
National Security Committee Meeting
A detailed briefing of the country’s internal security situation was presented at the National Security Committee on Friday.
The prime minister, who was chairing the meeting, stressed that no group should be allowed to cause public disruption or use violence to pressure the government.
It was agreed in the committee meeting that any further breach of law by the proscribed group would not be tolerated.
It was also decided that only negotiations with the group would only be held within the bounds of law, without offering leniency for any crimes committed by the TLP operatives.
