Tag: TLP

  • PM Imran to address the nation today at 4:30pm

    PM Imran to address the nation today at 4:30pm

    Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the nation at 4:30 pm today. During his speech, PM Imran will take the nation into confidence over the security situation in the country due to violent protests by the recently banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    Eleven policemen and five other security officials who were taken hostage on Sunday were released by TLP Monday morning after a successful round of talks with the Punjab government.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that the PM will deliver a historic speech today.

    Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony for the Margalla Highway in Islamabad, PM Imran said that it was unfortunate how political and religious parties in the country misuse Islam and damage their own country. PM said that he was saddened that many times our love [for the Holy Prophet (PBUH)] is misused. He said we all love our Prophet (PBUH).

    “I haven’t seen as much affection and respect for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in any country other than Pakistan,” remarked the premier.

    Religious parties and traders have called for a countrywide strike today in support of the banned TLP.

  • Policemen taken hostage by TLP released after successful talks with Punjab govt

    Policemen taken hostage by TLP released after successful talks with Punjab govt

    Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced this morning that after a successful first round of talks between the Punjab government and the recently banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), 11 policemen who had been taken hostage on Sunday have been released.

    In a video statement released in the wee hours of April 19, Rasheed said that the first round of talks was successful and he was hopeful that the second round of talks after sehri would also be fruitful. The minister hoped that matters would be resolved amicably. Four demands have been put forth by the proscribed party: 1) release of TLP leader Saad Rivi, 2) Lift the ban on TLP, 3) FIRs against TLP workers be quashed and TLP workers released, 4) expel the French ambassador.

    As per the list released to the media, the total number of released hostages was 16, which included 11 policemen and other staff members. Most of the officials had head injuries as well as other injuries due to torture. Geo News had reported that the hostages were kept in the basement of a mosque.

    List of policemen and security staff released

    Dawn reported that Lahore CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar had participated in the operation to free the officials. “Police contingents, as well as Rangers, have been deployed at sensitive areas across the city,” said the spokesperson for the Lahore Police.

    Countrywide protests erupted on Monday after security forces detained TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi in Lahore. Rizvi’s detention quickly sparked violent protests by TLP workers in cities around the country. Videos of policemen being beaten up by the protesters went viral on social media. Some police officials tweeted about the writ of the state.

    Later, the government had taken the decision to ban TLP under Section 11(B) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

    On Sunday, violence erupted in Lahore’s Chowk Yateem Khana after the TLP workers attacked a police station and abducted the DSP, according to the Punjab Police. A statement by the Punjab Police said that “miscreants were armed and attacked Rangers/Police”.

  • PM wants world to look at blasphemy like Holocaust

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday urged the Western countries to outlaw rising instances of blasphemy, just as some countries restrict anti-Semitic speech or Holocaust denial.

    In a series of tweets, the prime minister condemned “extreme right politicians” in the West who “deliberately indulge” in willful and intentional provocations under the “guise of freedom of speech”.

    The premier made it clear that the government took action against TLP under the anti-terrorism law when it challenged the writ of the state and used street violence, as no one can be above the law and the country’s constitution.

    “Let me make [it] clear to people here and abroad [that] our government only took action against TLP under our anti-terrorist law when they challenged the writ of the state, used street violence and attacked the public and law enforcers. No one can be above the law and the Constitution,” the premier said in his tweets.

  • Cop among three killed, over 100 arrested as Labbaik protesters resort to violence

    Cop among three killed, over 100 arrested as Labbaik protesters resort to violence

    • Interior minister announces action against those breaking law; necessary measures to reopen roads, entry/exit points also ordered

    At least two protestors and a policeman were killed Tuesday in violent clashes between members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and police in Lahore early Tuesday morning, less than a day after police arrested party chief Saad Rizvi.

    According to reports, the policeman was killed in overnight clashes with the supporters of Rizvi, Lahore police chief Ghulam Mahmood Dogar said. Ten policemen were also wounded in these clashes in the Shahadra neighbourhood.

    Two members of the TLP were also reported dead in Punjab.

    As the protests spilled over into other cities on Tuesday, the police arrested more than 100 supporters of the party.

    The violence began late on Monday after police arrested Rizvi for threatening protests if the government did not expel the French ambassador, Marc Baréty, over blasphemous cartoons.

    According to Dogar, the arrest was aimed at maintaining law and order. But Rizvi’s detention quickly sparked violent protests by Islamists in cities around the country. The protesters blocked highways and roads in several cities.

    The deadly clashes come two days after Rizvi in a statement asked the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to “honour” a commitment it made in February to his party to expel Baréty before April 20.

    However, the government has said it only committed to discussing the matter in the National Assembly.

    The reaction from Rizvi’s supporters against his arrest was so swift that police in Lahore could not clear a main highway and roads. Thousands of people were stranded in their vehicles.

    Monday’s clashes initially erupted in Lahore. Rizvi’s supporters later clashed with police in Karachi and they continued rallying on the outskirts of Islamabad, disrupting traffic and inconveniencing residents.

    INTERIOR MINISTER:

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has ordered action against those who take law into their own hands, besides putting in place measures needed to reopen roads as well as entry and exits points of major cities across the country.

    The Interior Ministry decided to take strict action against those creating law and order situations, and ordered to suspend cellular and internet services in affected areas.

    The decisions were taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Rasheed.

    It was attended by federal minister for religious affairs, chief commissioner, Islamabad and Punjab inspector generals (IGs) and chief secretaries concerned.

    BACKGROUND:

    Saad Rizvi emerged as the leader of the party in November after the sudden death of his father, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, due to the coronavirus. His supporters have previously held violent rallies to pressurise the government not to repeal the blasphemy laws.

    Blasphemy is punishable with a mandatory death sentence, and the very mention of blasphemy is enough to inflame violent reactions.

    The TLP wants the government to boycott French products and expel the French ambassador under an agreement signed by the government with Rizvi’s party in November.

    TLP and other religious parties have denounced French President Emmanuel Macron since October last year, saying he tried to defend blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as freedom of expression.

    Macron’s comments came after a young Muslim beheaded a French school teacher who had shown caricatures in class.

    The images had been republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, best known for vulgar irreverence, to mark the opening of the trial over the 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures.

  • Traffic situation heads towards normalcy while hardliner TLP continues protests

    The traffic situation across country is continuing to head towards normalcy despite countrywide protests by hardliner Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

    According to reports, while the sit-ins are likely to continue even today and maybe later, the protests will be confined to certain areas in every city.

    It may be noted that the protests come amid the third wave of COVID-19, however, authorities remain reluctant to calm the hardliners down.

    WHY ARE PROTESTS BEING HELD?

    Countrywide protests erupted on Monday after security forces detained TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi in Lahore.

    According to a news outlet, a senior police official also confirmed that Rizvi had been taken into custody as a “pre-emptive measure” ahead of the party’s April 20 deadline. However, no first information report (FIR) against Saad Rizvi has been registered so far.

    TLP leader Syed Zaheerul Hassan Shah, in a video message, confirmed Saad’s arrest and said the government had “completely deviated from” the agreement it had reached with his party regarding Namoos-i-Risalat. “The government has resorted to thuggery (gunda gardi) and is restoring its past practices.”

    Shah called upon party leaders and workers to “come out on the roads” in their areas in protest against the government action.

    “Carry out protest demonstrations on roads and wherever you are, jam the entire country,” he told them in the message.

    Following the development, protests erupted in multiple cities of the country.

    It bears mentioning that, last year, TLP supporters had brought Islamabad to a standstill for three days with a series of anti-France rallies.

    Police blocked the demonstrators as they attempted to enter the capital. Some chanted that the only punishment for a blasphemer was beheading, police official Tauqeer Shah said.

    The protesters attacked the police with bricks, stones and sticks, he added. They were pictured blocking the road into Pakistan’s capital.

    “Several of our officers were injured,” he said, adding that nearly 2,000 protesters had camped at the main entrance to the city, refusing to leave.

    KARACHI:

    Karachi’s II Chundrigar Road, MA Jinnah Road and their surrounding areas, including the road connecting Tower to the Governor House, was left jam-packed with vehicles due to the protest.

    Other roads were also blocked in the port city, including Baldia No. 4 Hub River Road, Northern Bypass, Orangi Town No. 5, Jinnah Bridge (traffic blocked from ICI towards Jinnah Bridge), Star Gate.

    Police dispersed protesters from Star Gate to allow the flow of traffic to return to normal.

    Moreover, it emerged that at least one officer was injured in Orangi Town No. 5 after the protesters began pelting stones at the police.

    ISLAMABAD & RAWALPINDI:

    In Islamabad, Athal Chowk was forced into closing, which created problems for citizens. Protests also broke out in Bhara Kahu and roads leading to Murree and Azad Kashmir from the federal capital were also blocked for traffic.

    Protesters were also seen chanting slogans on Murree Road.

    Moreover, the entry points for the twin cities were closed down, leading to more problems.

    TLP workers were seen stone-pelting and forcing travellers to stop their cars at Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi.

    Workers of the party also climbed atop the Liaquat Bagh metro bus station, while traffic blockages were reported from across the city.

    LAHORE:

    In Lahore, the traffic flow was disrupted in several areas and on multiple roads.

    The roads blocked by TLP workers included the following: Faletti Chowk towards Faisal Chowk; High Court Chowk towards Regal Chowk; Avari Chowk towards Governor House Chowk (now opened); Corporation Chowk Outfall Road; Yateem Khana Chowk; Khayaban Chowk; Muhafiz Town towards Thokkar Chowk EME Road; Darogawala Chowk towards Quaid-e-Azam Interchange (both sides); Chungi Amarsadhu towards Kasur (both sides); Shahdara Chowk from all four sides; Shadbagh; Joray Pul Zarar Shaheed Road; Barki Road; Bhatta Chowk Bedian Road; Walton Road; Canal Road; Cup store Misrishah; Harbanspura Interchange (slip roads); Shalimar Chowk towards Ghas Mandi; Quaid-e-Azam Interchange to Niazi Shaheed Interchange on Ring Road; Bagriyan Chowk; and Sundar Road.

    Protests in Multan led to beefing up of the security as the TLP workers blocked the road link between Multan and different cities of southern Punjab.

    Reports of protests from Jhelum and Naushahro Feroze were also received.

    TLP member Khalid Awan told a local news outlet that the government had “turned back on its promise” to expel the French ambassador by April 20 and took Rizvi into custody.

    “We will not step back from our mission because of Saad Rizvi’s arrest,” he said.

    In Feburary, the federal government and TLP had agreed to table the TLP demands in the Parliament, which would decide the matter. At the time, the TLP had extended its deadline from February to April 20.

    According to the document signed on January 11, 2021, the TLP had signed an agreement with the PTI government on November 16, 2020, which could not be implemented.

    “The government and TLP were in talks for the past one month as the government resolved to implement it. It has been agreed that the federal government would table the agreement in the Parliament by April 20 and decisions would be taken with a nod of the parliament,” the agreement said.

    The agreement had said that those TLP leaders whose names had been registered in the fourth schedule would be absolved. The agreement had said that the agreement would stand cancelled if any clause of the agreement is violated. The document had said that the prime minister would formally announce the deal which would be implemented amicably.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan also announced the agreement on Thursday during a TV interview, saying that the government negotiators had successful talks with the leadership of TLP and it had been agreed to extend its deadline of February to April 20.

  • Three men sentenced to death over blasphemous posts

    Three men sentenced to death over blasphemous posts

    An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has sentenced three men to death over blasphemous posts on social media.

    The verdict was reserved in the case on Dec 15, 2020 after a four-year long trial.

    ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas, while announcing the verdict, said the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against the accused.

    All three accused, Abdul Waheed, Rana Noman Rafaqat and Nasir Ahmed, have been found guilty, the ruling pronounced.

    A 10-year imprisonment sentence and Rs100,000 fine was also awarded to a professor, reported Geo.

    Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan. Rights advocates have long been demanding a reform of the controversial laws, introduced by military dictator General Ziaul Haq in the 1980s.

    Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.

  • PM, army chief express condolences on death of TLP chief Rizvi

    PM, army chief express condolences on death of TLP chief Rizvi

    The demise of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi has been condoled by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa among others.

    Rizvi, who rose to fame following a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in 2018. His party also opposed the release of Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent almost a decade on death row over false blasphemy accusations.

    In a tweet, the prime minister said: On the passing of Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi my condolences go to his family. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”

    In a tweet, the military media wing shared Gen Bajwa’s reaction to the death of the cleric. “General Qamar Javed Bajwa,#COAS, expresses heartfelt condolence on the sad demise of Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi. “May Allah Almighty bless the departed soul in eternal peace.”

    Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri also expressed grief and sorrow on the TLP chief’s death. He said: “Pakistan has lost a respected religious scholar and true admirer of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)”, adding that his “services for Islam will be remembered for long”.

    In a tweet, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq expressed shock and grief over Rizvi’s sudden demise, saying his party shared the sorrow of his family members and TLP workers.

    On Thursday night, Rizvi died in Lahore supposedly due to coronavirus. Reports suggest that the cleric was suffering from the viral infection because he had high-grade fever for the past couple of days in addition to other complications.

    Rizvi is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.

    It may be noted here that Rizvi led a recent TLP rally in Islamabad against the blasphemous cartoons in a French magazine. Things had taken an ugly turn when participants of the protest-turned-sit-in had clashed with law enforcement personnel, resulting in over a dozen injuries.

    The law and order situation had been dealt with by the government after accepting the protesters’ demands.

  • ‘Over my dead body,’ says Khadim Rizvi on Zindagi Tamasha release

    ‘Over my dead body,’ says Khadim Rizvi on Zindagi Tamasha release

    Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi has said that he would not let Sarmad Khoosat’s film Zindagi Tamasha release no matter what anyone does, Pakistan Today reported.

    “We will not let Zindagi Tamasha release and will do whatever it takes to make sure it does not see the light of day,” he said, adding ‘jo karna hai kar lo’ (do whatever you can), as he addressed party workers and supporters at Faisal Chowk on Kashmir Solidarity Day.

    Earlier on January 28, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) had set up a four-member committee that would review the film Zindagi Tamasha and submit a report to CII Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz.

    The members of this committee include Ghulam Majid, Abdul Rasheed, Taaj Muhammad and Muhammad Ashfaq, all of whom are said to be experts in the concepts of Shariah.

    “All the members are competent and hold qualifications in Islam and social sciences. They belong to CII’s research wing and were selected for this task after going through an interview process. We have shown them the CBFC letter and advised them on how to review the film, keeping religious sentiments in mind,” CII’s Media Coordinator Rana Zahid had said.

    “The Council’s supreme body will further take a decision regarding the film after viewing the report,” he said.

    He further told that the CII has sent a letter notifying the CBFC of its plan of action in the first phase and is expecting a reply soon.

    According to another anonymous member of the CII, the four member bench will also question the viewpoint of CBFC members over objectionable dialogues.

    “How were these dialogues and scenes that hurt the sentiments of the public even cleared if they (CBFC) watched the film? The reply of the CBFC members will also be a part of the report. We are just concerned over the objectionable dialogues that hurt the public. We have no concern otherwise. No scene or dialogue that hurts religious sentiments, would be allowed to pass,” said the member.