As protesters refused to budge, the government formed a new committee consisting of religious leaders from different schools of thought to negotiate an end to the two-week sit-in at Faizabad. According to report, the move came hours after the Islamabad High Court said it would hold officials in contempt if they did not launch a crackdown, as commuters called for the roads to be opened and critics accused the government of creating a dangerous precedent by failing to take a stand.
The government held a round of parleys with the leadership of demonstrators at Punjab House but to no avail, as protesters stuck to their guns — resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid. According to official sources, the law minister participated in talks, explained his position and briefed the leaders of protesters about the process of drafting the Electoral Reforms Bill by a 34–member parliamentary committee.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and the Punjab police chief also participated in the talks. After a high-level huddle with religious leaders, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf read out a declaration to resolve the issue. The declaration read that a committee, headed by Pir Hussainuddin Shah will come into action instantly to find a comprehensive and satisfactory solution to the problem. The meeting urged the government to avoid use of force and operation against the protesters. This meeting of religious scholars announced with sincerity that faith in Khatam-e-Nabuwwat is the basis for our religion and there is no room for leniency, mistake or error. Flanked by the religious affairs minister, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal told the media that all participants of the meeting agreed that the issue should be resolved amicably. Roughly 2,000 protesters from Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan have blocked a main highway used by thousands of commuters since November 6, causing hours long traffic snarls. Protesters at the demonstration, where young men armed with clubs are refusing to let vehicles pass and at times pelting those who come near with stones, were defiant. Early resolution of the issue is the need of the hour to end the miseries of citizen of twin cities. It is the government’s responsibility to maintain law and order and protect people’s rights but unfortunately no effort of settlement had proved successful. The government has so far failed to resolve this issue. If the leaders of sit-in are still not ready to resolve the issue than government should take appropriate measures to end this sit-in. The government must realize the sufferings of the local people and resolve the issue on fast track basis. Religious leaders should also play their role to end prevailing deadlock between sit-in administrator and the government.
