Punjab protests end after government and Tehreek-e-Labbaik agree a deal

TLYRA activists gathered at Shahdra Chowk, the main entrance of Lahore. (AN Photo by Malik Shafique)
  • Federal authorities agreement to implement Faizabad agreement and seek court’s direction on protesters arrested in November
  • Peace talks between the two sides were mediated by the provincial government in Punjab

LAHORE: Representatives of the federal government on Friday morning reached an agreement with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to end the party’s 11-day sit-in in Lahore.
Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the founder and president of TLP, told his followers on April 13 before dawn that their demands had been met.
“All the faithful are requested to go their homes peacefully,” he told protesters at the main sit-in camp, in front of Data Darbar. “The government has accepted all our demands.”
Talks between TLP and the federal government were mediated by representatives of the provincial administration in Punjab, including the region’s Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Rana Sanaullah Khan.
“The TLP is demanding the implementation of the ‘Faizabad agreement’,” he said. “The agreement is between the TLP and the federal government and we are not party to it. I have called in the Chief Commissioner Islamabad for the negotiations.”
The Faizabad agreement followed a three-week protest at the Faizabad interchange in November 2017 over changes to election law. Violence broke out and the army intervened. The agreement, between the federal government and the TLP, was subsequently brokered by the army. It demanded the law minister resign, which he did, and the release of all protesters who were arrested, among other things. However, the Islamabad High Court questioned the legality of the agreement and it was never fully implemented, eventually igniting the latest protests.
The breakthrough came after two previous rounds of talks, during which the parties failed to reach an agreement and TLP activists subsequently spread their protest country-wide, blocking many busy roads.
The third round, attended by the chief commissioner and deputy commissioner, went on until 3 a.m. before the two sides reached a solution. The TLP delegation included Sheikh Azhar, Waheed Anwar and Usman Afzal Qadri.
The chief commissioner said his hands were tied in one aspect of the Faizabad agreement, the withdrawal of legal cases against TLP leaders and activists, on the grounds that this is impossible until the court gives a decision. The chief commissioner said that the federal government would contact the court to seek direction on the matter.
Both sides agreed to lodge a police report known as a First Information Report (FIR) against the unknown killers of TLP activists who died at Faizabad.
The Punjab government lodged the FIR and copy was given to the negotiators. The provincial authorities also agreed to launch a fresh investigation board to look into the killings and other losses at Faizabad.
“People were suffering a lot due to the TLP protests,” Khan added. “I hope the matter is solved now and people who are facing agony due to road blocks will get relief.”