Proscribed TLP ends protest in all areas of Lahore

"The government made good on its promise by presenting the resolution in parliament," Amini said. "Now we do not need to protest any further." He said protests in Lahore, as well as all other places, had been called off.

Proscribed TLP ends protest in all areas of Lahore
Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party leave after the sit-in protest was called off, in Lahore on April 20, 2021. — AFP

The proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has ended its protest in all areas of Lahore including outside its Masjid Rehmatulil Alameen headquarters in Lahore.

The TLP has demanded the French ambassador to Pakistan be expelled after French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right of Charlie Hebdo magazine to republish blasphemous cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

According to Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, a final deal between the TLP and the government was struck today, following which the promise to present a resolution in parliament to discuss whether or not the French envoy must be sent back was fulfilled.

The sit-in, which began on April 12 after the arrest of the banned outfit’s chief Saad Rizvi, draws the curtains on a tragic week which saw the deaths and kidnapping of several policemen, injuries to hundreds in clashes between protesters and law enforcement, and road blockages as the protests spread to major cities of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Shafiq Amini, who was leading the talks from the TLP side, made the announcement of the protest ending, with members of the shura (council) also present.

Amini called on all workers to keep the peace. He noted that through the use of false propaganda on social media, there is an attempt to incite violence.

The parliament passed a resolution today to form a special committee to discuss the matter of the expulsion and the debate will continue in the National Assembly on Friday.

“The government made good on its promise by presenting the resolution in parliament,” Amini said. “Now we do not need to protest any further.”

He said protests in Lahore, as well as all other places, had been called off.

Speaking of the other demands put forth by the party to the government, Amini said there had been “positive” developments on those fronts as well.

He said the central leadership was reviewing all the progress made.

As the announcement was made, roads outside the site of the main sit-in in Lahore, were opened to traffic. The workers of the banned outfit began to disperse.