The government has announced that it has signed an agreement with the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) but stopped short of sharing any details of the accord. Mufti Muneebur Rehman, who was part of the negotiations, has said that the details will come to light when the time is ‘appropriate’.
The government’s negotiating team held a press conference on Sunday to give an update about their negotiations with the TLP.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser were representing the government’s side at the press conference. Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman was also present on the occasion.
Rehman said that TLP will open GT road for traffic on Monday morning, but the sit-in will continue in a nearby park. He added that the protest will end when the outfit’s chief Saad Rizvi is released.
While addressing the protestors at Wazirabad, the cleric said that the agreement signed with the government would be considered abolished if any worker of the group is now arrested by the police.
Clashes between the proscribed extremist group and the police that began two weeks ago claimed lives of at least seven policemen and left many other injured.
Meanwhile, observers have termed the latest agreement yet another instance of the state’s capitulation to the TLP, saying that the government first termed the group a militant organisation and then proceeded to reach an agreement with it.
Government signs another deal with the TLP, which allegedly had an “Indian nexus” and in April was believed to have been “engaged in terrorism”.
The agreement with the group that was, till earlier this week, acting “like militants" will be kept secret.
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) October 31, 2021
What’s worse than capitulation or an agreement with protesters the government had declared “militant” and had “Indian connections” because the state couldn’t establish its writ? Secrecy. As if it had something to hide. #tlp
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) October 31, 2021
Once again TLP has won .
Government unable to even tell details of agreement.
Establishment has once again displayed they are inevitable.
IK surrendered to a lowest level— Muzamal Suharwardy (@M_Suharwardy) October 31, 2021
Agreement reached between TLP, Govt. Mufti Muneeb says terms will be disclosed at an appropriate time but media should highlight this as positive step
Nothing in this press conference inspired confidence, least of all the “secret” agreement
Unfortunate, though hardly surprising
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) October 31, 2021
