Accord under army ends sit-in

ISLAMABAD: The life is returning to normal across the country as the three-week-long sit-in at the junction of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was called off on Monday after an agreement was reached between the leadership of the sit-in and the government with Pakistan Army’s intervention and following the de-notification of Zahid Hamid as law minister.

The belated acceptance of demand of protesters, however, resulted in the loss of six lives, leaving more than 250 injured and massive destruction to the private and public property during the operation on Saturday, paralyising routine life in the two cities since November 6.

Till the filing of this report, the administration was busy in clearing roads from containers and other hurdles while the sanitation staff was cleansing the area.

The sit-in protesters have started leaving the Faizabad Interchange for their native towns. The protesters went to their destinations through buses and wagons parked at different points.

Hours after the sit-ins were called off, the government began releasing protesters arrested during the operation at Faizabad on Saturday.

DG Punjab Rangers Maj-Gen Azhar Naveed oversaw the release of protesters. Twenty-five protesters have been released till the filing of this report. “This agreement has been signed through efforts of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and his representative team for which we are grateful to them. They have saved the nation from a big tragedy,” the last point of the agreement said.

The agreement bears signatures of Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Secretary Interior Arshad Mirza, Markazi Ameer of Tahreek Labaik Pakistan

(TLP) Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Patron-in-Chief Pir Afzal Qadri, Markazi Nazim-e-Aala Muhammad Waheed Anwar and Major General Faiz Hameed who acted as a mediator.

“The army officer has signed the agreement as a witness,” Ahsan Iqbal was quoted as saying.

Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi announced the end of the three weeks long sit-in at around 10:30 am in the presence of the media, saying an agreement had been reached with the government. He also asked his followers and supporters across the country to disperse.

Rizvi also took the media hostage for a few minutes when he came to know that his press conference was not being telecast live. They were allowed following intervention from personnel of Punjab Rangers.

Rizvi said he and his followers had set out towards the federal capital solely for the protection of Khatam-e-Nabuwwat (SAW). He alleged that propaganda had been done against his group to create an impression that they had been sent by someone else to Islamabad.

According to a Reuters report, Allama Khadin Hussain Rizvi thanked the army chief for helping resolve the stand-off.

"The honourable chief of army staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, sent his special envoys to us. We said we do not want to talk to the government; they are our murderers," Rizvi said. "So the general took personal interest and sent his team, saying ‘we will become the guarantors, and have your demands fulfilled’. So we said, ‘All right. That is what we want’.”

Tehreek Labaik Pakistan, one of two new ultra-religious political movements to reach prominence in recent months, has made defending the blasphemy laws a campaign centrepiece with some success.

The party won a surprisingly strong 6 percent and 7.6 percent share of votes in two recent by-elections.

According to the agreement, the report of the Raja Zafarul Haq will be published within a time of 30 days and those responsible be punished as per law. The first point of the agreement was related to resignation of Zahid Hamid as law minister. “Law minister whose ministry presented amendments in parliament will resign while Tahreek Labaik will not issue any fatwa against him,” the agreement said.

The agreement was also reached that all those arrested since the start of sit-in on November 6, 2017, across the country would be released from one to three days and cases against them would be withdrawn.

The agreement also says that an inquiry board be constituted to hold an inquiry into the November 25 operation and use of force against the participants of the sit-in and report should be completed within 30 days. “The responsible of operation be punished after fixing the responsibility,” it added. The agreement says the federal and provincial governments would bear expenses on the loss occurred to private and public property during the November 25 operation. It says that agreement reached with the Punjab government would also be implemented in letter and spirit.

A board of clerics led by Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri will be set up to probe the remarks made by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah against the alleged persecution of Ahmedis. Sanaullah will have to accept the decision made by the board.

No difficulty will be faced in registering cases under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (blasphemy laws).

No leniency will be given to those convicted by courts for blasphemy. No ban will be imposed on the use of loudspeakers.

The foreign and interior ministries will take steps for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui after taking her mother and sister into confidence.

The holiday of Iqbal Day on November 9 will be revived.

Two representatives of the TLP will be included in the panel assigned to decide changes in the textbook board. The officials will push for inclusion of translation of the Holy Quran and chapters about Seeratun Nabi (SAW) and Muslim leaders. The Chehlum of martyrs will be held on January 4 at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.

Every year, November 25 will be observed as “Martyrs of Prophet’s Honour Day”.

Earlier, President Mamnoon Hussain on advice of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accepted the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, who was at the centre of the controversy, to meet the first and major condition of leaders of the sit-in. “I am tendering resignation to bring the country out of critical situation,” Zahid Hamid said, adding that he had no direct role in making changes in the law.

Zahid Hamid sent his resignation to the prime minister on Sunday evening who forwarded the same to the president for his acceptance.

“In exercise of powers conferred by Clause (3) of Article 92 of the Constitution, the President of Pakistan on advice of the prime minister has been pleased to accept resignation of Zahid Hamid,” the notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat said, de-notifying Zahid as federal law minister.