Second round of talks between Punjab govt, banned outfit TLP conclude

 

The Punjab government and proscribed organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan's (TLP) second round of talks concluded on Monday,  Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said a few hours after the first round of negotiations were held earlier during the day. 

Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had announced that 11 policemen, who were taken hostage in Lahore by the banned party, had been released after negotiations carried out by the Punjab government.

In a video statement, the interior minister had said the “first round of talks” concluded in a "successful manner" after which the policemen were released and the protesters had gone inside the Masjid Rehmatulil Alameen.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar and Law Minister Raja Basharat represented the government in the second round of talks, the information minister revealed. 

"The third round will be held at 10pm, with Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri in attendance," he added.

All 16 police officials taken hostage on Sunday were released at 2:10 a.m. Monday morning, Rana Arif, the spokesperson for Lahore CCPO told Geo.tv.

The four demands of the TLP included the release of their leader Saad Rivi, for TLP to be unbanned, all FIRs against their workers be dropped and a resolution be presented in the parliament to expel the French ambassador, the official added.

Yesterday, 36 policemen were injured in clashes with the rioters. Of which one is critical, Arif said.

The 16 hostages were kept in the basement of a mosque and tortured.