ICST lauds role of COAS in ending Faizabad sit-in

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) on Tuesday lauded the positive role of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in brokering a deal between the government and protesters who were camping at the busy Faizabad Interchange for the last 21 days.

The siege of the capital city ended peacefully, which also ended miseries of masses, business community and saved the country’s image, it said. The positive role of the leadership of protesters is also laudable as they agreed to an agreement which was the need of the hour, said Patron ICST Shahid Rasheed Butt.

The government failed to deal with the explosive situation and the negative attitude of authorities fanned the fire engulfing many other cities and towns but the timely intervention of the army diffused the situation, he added.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said the government should have accepted the demand of resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid, who is being blamed for change in the oath of elected representatives that resulted in nationwide protests.

He lauded the decision of the COAS that the army would not use force against protesters and would only provide back-end support, which paved the way for negotiations. If an agreement was not reached, unrest could have spread across the country and the situation would be worsened, which would have inflicted heavy losses on the masses and the economy, he said.

Now, life has begun returning to normal across the country, transport is plying on the roads, which is a very positive development, he said, adding that the government should not delay holding accountable the persons responsible for changing the Khatam-e-Nabuwwat (SAW) oath.