Religious parties’ sit-in enters 15th day as deadlock persists

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Hundreds of activists of religious parties’ have on Monday continue to stage sit-in at Faizabad on 15th day as a deadlock in the negotiations with the government continues to persist. Heavy contingent of Rangers, Frontier Corps and police are deployed in the area whereas armored vehicles, prison vans and ambulances are also present. Police personnel deployed at Faizabad as protest continue despite stern warnings. The leaders of religious parties remained put on the demand of Law Minister Zahid Hamid’s resignation. Police have also registered a case against the protesters under terrorism act for attacking police checkpost. Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had delayed decision to use force against protesters belonging to Sunni Tehreek and Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (PBUH) after fourth round of talks ended at residence of Raja Zafarul Haq. Protesting bodies represented by Dr Shafiq Ameeni, Sheikh Azhar and Pir Ijaz Sherani held dialogues at Raja Zafarul Haq’s residence with the government and returned to the protesting site. Hundreds of activists of religious parties’ also staged a sit-in at Numaish Chorangi in Karachi, while a protest rally was taken out in Peshawar’s Gulbahar area by the Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (PBUH) which ended at the Press Club. On the other hand, the interior minister has convened an emergency meeting of Ulema belonging to all schools of thought in Islamabad to discuss situation arising from the sit-in at Faizabad Interchange. Final consultation would be held with Ulema to cope with the situation. The meeting will also evolve a course of action to keep the nation united over Khatm-e-Nabuwwat issue. Interior Minister has urged the religious group protesting in Islamabad to obey the law of land and call off their sit-in as the law regarding Khatm-e-Nabuwwat has been made more sound and effective. On Sunday, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal again appealed the protesters to end their sit-in as the law regarding Khatm-e-Nabuwwat has been made more strict and effective but the protesters remained put two days after the deadline to vacate the vital junction ended. Earlier, Moulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi had said that they will continue to stage sit-in until the acceptance of their demands, adding that they were not going anywhere and the government should not be in any misconception. Meanwhile, the Islamabad-Rawalpindi administration had sealed the entry and exit routes of Faizabad Interchange leaving the citizens in trouble. Law-enforcers, equipped in riot gear, were present near the site of the sit-in but had not taken any action as the hour given by the district administration to disperse passed. All hospitals in the twin cities were put on high alert and the leaves of doctors and paramedical staffs have been cancelled. Residents of the area have also been directed to stay in houses and avoid inter-city movement. On Friday, the IHC had ordered the district administration to dislodge the sit-in of religious parties at Faizabad Interchange. The IHC judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui took notice of the non-implementation of its earlier orders to the religious parties of dislodging of the sit-in. He directed the district administration to remove protesters from the main route until tomorrow (Saturday) morning. The religious parties have been staging the sit-in against a change in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat affidavit for the last 11 days. Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi had demanded to expose those responsible for a change in the affidavit. The court summoned the Islamabad police chief, chief commissioner and an interior ministry official in person at the next hearing and adjourned the case until November 29.