While Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has formally been unbanned by the government, its chief Saad Rizvi is unlikely to be released anytime soon. The Federal Review Board (FRB) has not indicated as to when it will hear Punjab government’s case pertaining to Rizvi’s detention.
Following the expiry of the TLP chief’s detention period, the case was rendered infructuous before the Lahore High Court (LHC). Therefore, the review board was meant to hear the case on Nov 6, which it did not. It is unclear when the case will now be heard.
On October 31, the government announced that it has signed an agreement with the 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 following the agreement and updated about their negotiations with the TLP. Media reports had indicated that the government now wanted to mainstream the TLP by making it part of the political process. In turn, the TTP would withdraw its demand pertaining to the expulsion of the French ambassador from Pakistan. A series of meetings of federal and provincial authorities were held to discuss the implementation of the deal. TLP representatives were part of the discussion.
