Tag: French ambassador

  • ‘Will not allow facts to be distorted’: TLP asks Sheikh Rasheed to reveal details of negotiations

    Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has asked the Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed to reveal the negotiations [between the government and the banned organisation] saying that they will “not allow the facts to be distorted”, reports Geo News.

    The banned outfit’s spokesman Saddam Bukhari said, “One side of the picture should not be shown regarding negotiations with the government. Our only demand from day one was that the French ambassador be deported.”

    Previously, Rasheed, rejecting this demand stated, “TLP’s demand of expelling the French Embassy and ambassador has a lot of complications attached to it. We are the largest nuclear force in the Islamic world. The world is conspiring to sanction us.”

    According to Bukhari, the rest of the demands were put forward by the group due to a clash with the law enforcement agencies and claimed that the talks between the state and TLP will continue in Islamabad. Moreover, he added that their caravan is on its way to Islamabad.

    A TLP activist claimed that the protests are the beauty of democracy and that ministers should avoid bullying. According to him, they always have been peaceful but the government has always used force.

    Bukhari blamed the government for creating difficulties for the public. He also alleged that militants are those who staged a sit-in in the capital Islamabad for 126 days and attacked the Pakistan Television (PTV) and Parliament buildings.

    As per the media outlet sources, earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had said that the government “will not allow violence for political purposes.”

    During the meeting, the premier was briefed on the march then the government decided not to allow protesters to march beyond Jhelum.

    Prior to this, the interior minister said that the Rangers were being called in Punjab for 60 days to maintain law and order in the province.

  • ‘Sheikh Rasheed lied, let the entire nation see the malicious intent of the govt’: TLP leadership

    Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) leader Syed Sarwar Shah Saifi on Wednesday said, “Sheikh Rasheed lied yesterday that matters have been resolved. He also lied about contact [with us] at 8 pm — from them till now no government official, including Sheikh, has contacted [us],” reports Dawn.

    In a statement issued by the group’s central committee, TLP said, “Let the entire nation see the malicious intent of the government.”

    TLP said its activists would now march onto Islamabad because their demands have not been met by the government.

    Saifi said, “Are these claimants of the state of Madina unable to respond to France? Have they become so enslaved to the Jews and the Christians?”

    “Don’t lie to the nation. No negotiations are being done with us. The government is not sincere in negotiations but if more blood is shed now, revenge will be taken,” the statement said.

    Saifi said the demands would increase if more blood was spilt and the nation would be “rid of this dishonest, lying and hypocritical government”. He said it would be better if the agreement was abided by and TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was released so the group could go back.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, while speaking at a press conference on Tuesday said, “We cannot expel the French ambassador as demanded by the TLP.”

    “We accept all other conditions of the banned TLP. They promised us that they will open all blocked roads but we are waiting for them to open the routes,” said Rasheed, adding that the only issue between the government and TLP is the French ambassador matter. “Otherwise we don’t have any reservations with their conditions.”

    “TLP’s demand of expelling the French Ambassy and Ambassador has a lot of complications attached to it. We are the largest nuclear force in the Islamic world. The world is conspiring to sanction us,” said Rasheed.

    Earlier on Tuesday night, the district administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad had blocked the Faizabad intersection to prevent the TLP protesters from entering the federal capital territory.

  • ‘Govt can’t expel the French ambassador as demanded by TLP’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Govt can’t expel the French ambassador as demanded by TLP’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, while speaking at a press conference about the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP), said: “We cannot expel the French ambassador as demanded by the TLP.”

    “We accept all other conditions of the banned TLP. They promised us that they will open all blocked roads but we are waiting for them to open the routes,” said Rasheed, adding that the only issue between the government and TLP is the French ambassador matter. “Otherwise we don’t have any reservations with their conditions.”

    “TLP’s demand of expelling the French Ambassy and Ambassador has a lot of complications attached to it. We are the largest nuclear force in the Islamic world. The world is conspiring to sanction us,” said Rasheed.

    “Our economic conditions are in front of you. France leads Europe and all European countries are standing with France,” added the minister.

    He said the government is “waiting for them to stick to their word”.

  • PPP to boycott, PDM to attend NA session today

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the government will present a resolution in the National Assembly (NA) for the expulsion of the French envoy. This comes in the wake of the successful negotiations between the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the government earlier today.

    The next NA session was scheduled for Thursday (April 22) but it was changed. NA session was called today at 3pm to facilitate the resolution.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted that the agreement with the banned TLP was not brought to the NA. Government took action against it on the streets and then banned TLP. Bilawal said that the prime minister did not take the NA into confidence at any stage so if the government did not take parliament into confidence, it is the prime minister’s mess. “Clean up or go home,” tweeted Bilawal.

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and its member parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are attending the NA session. Sources say they will also support the resolution.

    Three demands in the resolution ask for a debate on the expulsion of the French ambassador. It also asks that the European Union (EU), especially France, should be told about the sensitivity of this issue. Discussions should be held with all Muslim countries so as to raise it on international forums. The resolution also says that foreign relations will only be decided by the state and not an individual, group or party through any illegal pressure tactics.

    The resolution presented before the NA today has been approved for debate. PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asks for one hour to go over the motion with his party.

    This is a developing story

  • NA to debate sending French Ambassador back

    NA to debate sending French Ambassador back

    Initial reports coming in after Sehri on Tuesday suggest that negotiations between the government and the banned TLP have been successful.

    Reports indicate that all cases against TLP workers will be withdrawn. The decision to ban TLP will reviewed and may be taken back. A resolution seeking the expulsion of the French ambassador will be tabled in parliament. Some reports say it will be through a private member and not the government.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in a video message announced that a resolution on the expulsion of the French ambassador from Pakistan will be presented in the National Assembly. He also added that the cases registered against TLP workers under the Fourth Schedule will also be withdrawn.

    Meanwhile, as per the official Twitter account of The National Assembly of Pakistan, the session of the National Assembly which was scheduled for Thursday (April 22), will take place today at 3 pm after the government’s negotiations with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.

    TLP has decided to call off the dharna as per media reports.

    This is a developing story.

  • Round Three: Sheikh Rasheed to meet TLP workers tonight

    Round Three: Sheikh Rasheed to meet TLP workers tonight

    At 10 PM tonight, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and Religious Affairs Minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri will, yet again meet workers of the recently banned Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) for a third round of talks.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that the second round of talks had ended earlier today.

    The first round, led by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, had taken place yesterday after which 11 police hostages were released by the TLP. The first talks took place after a day of clashes between workers and the police.

    Although Prime Minister Khan, in his address to the nation, clearly said that the approach taken by the TLP to the French backing of blasphemous cartoons is wrong, the TLP has put forward four demands. They want the French ambassador to be sent back to France, the part chief Saad Rizvi to be released, the ban on the party to be removed and the arrested workers to be released. PM Khan has clearly stated that his approach, which includes uniting the Muslim world should be adopted by the country, and that the TLP is trying to show that they ‘feel more passionate’ about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) which is not true.

    It remains to be seen what happens in the meetings between the TLP and the government. However, PM Khan mentioned that the violent protests done by the banned party had led to the killing of four police officers, 800 officers injured, 40 police cars destroyed and millions of rupees lost in the destruction of private property.

  • PM announces putting Labbaik’s demands, including ratification of blasphemy bill, forward in parliament

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that following an agreement with the hardliner Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), their demands will be put forward in the parliament.

    According to reports, the premier, in a statement, said that the government spoke to TLP, and the party has decided to extend the “deadline” given to the government from February to April 20.

    The demands put forth by TLP include the French ambassador’s deportation, ratification of the blasphemy bill, and a ban on French goods after blasphemous caricatures were published in France that had sparked protests across the Muslim world.

    Late last year, hundreds of protesters in Pakistan, most of them led by TLP leaders, had burned effigies of France’s leader and chanted anti-French slogans, as President Emmanuel Macron had tried to send a message of understanding to Muslims around the world.

    Smaller demonstrations in Lebanon, Turkey and India followed on anti-France protests across the Muslim world last week that were mostly led by Islamist groups, reported AP news agency.

    The renewed protests had come after President Macron’s interview in which he said that he understood the shock Muslims felt at caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    Macron was speaking with the Qatar-based Arabic TV station Al-Jazeera, where he also defended freedoms of expression and France’s secular values.

    Just days before TLP chief Khadim Rizvi’s death, the protests had also turned ugly in Rawalpindi-Islamabad.