ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday directed the Islamabad administration to postpone the planned operation against sit-in protestors at Faizabad for another 24 hours, and also appealed religious leaders and Mashaikh to play their role.
“We do not want bloodshed in the name of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH),” the minister said.
Earlier on Friday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) voiced displeasure over non-compliance of its orders, and ordered the administration to end the religious parties’ sit-in at Faizabad Interchange even with force if necessary by tomorrow (Saturday).
The interior minister said that the implementation of the IHC’s order is a legal requirement.
Two religious parties Tehreek-i-Labbaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan have been staging a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, which connects Rawalpindi with the Federal Capital, demanding the Law Minister Zahid Hamid’s resignation over his involvement behind the amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat (Finality of Prophethood) Oath in the Elections Act 2017, and seeking the disclosure of an inquiry report prepared in this regard publicly.
Though the Parliament passed an amendment and brought Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Clauses to their original form but yet religious parties remained adamant in their demands.
Ahsan Iqbal said that there is no justification of protest after approval of law. He said that Khatm-i-Nabuwwat declaration form has been restored in its original form.
“We do not want to create tension on the occasion of Eid-Miladun Nabi. The nation has the right to celebrate Eid-Miladun Nabi with full religious zeal and fervor,” the minister further said.
Meanwhile, the interior minister, the leader of the Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq and authorities of the Capital administration will make another effort to persuade the religious parties to call off their sit-in as it had also been directed by the IHC now.
Earlier in the morning, entrances to the Federal Capital were sealed following the culmination of the deadline given by the IHC to end the sit-in.
The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP Operation) requested the Rangers to disperse the sit-in protestors. A large number of police personnel and Rangers cordoned off the area.
