Pakistan releases hundreds of TLP activists as protest continues

[313ghazi]

By Asad Hashim
Published On 25 Oct 2021

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s government has released 350 activists of the far-right Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religious group, the country’s interior minister says, as protests demanding the release of the group’s chief enter their fourth day.

Hundreds of TLP protesters remain encamped on the main highway on Monday near the town of Muridke, about 20km (12 miles) north of Pakistan’s second-biggest city, Lahore, as negotiations between the party’s leadership and a government committee continue.

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“We have released 350 TLP workers up to now and we are still waiting to open both sides road of Muridke as per the decision with TLP,” Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, who is heading the government’s negotiating team, said on Sunday.

A “final round” of negotiations will take place in the capital Islamabad on Monday, TLP Central Information Secretary Pir Ejaz Ashrafi told Al Jazeera.

The far-right group, which campaigns on the issue of blasphemy and has held several countrywide demonstrations that have paralysed Pakistan in recent years, began a protest demanding the release of its chief, Saad Rizvi, in Lahore on Friday.

TLP supporters chant slogans during a protest march towards Islamabad [KM Chaudary/AP]
At least two policemen were killed during clashes between protesters and riot police in Lahore, authorities said, with unconfirmed reports of several protesters also being killed.

TLP official Ashrafi said at least seven protesters had been killed in the clashes, which saw police firing tear gas shells at protesters and authorities putting up roadblocks and digging trenches to attempt to control the demonstrators’ movements.

Al Jazeera has been unable to independently verify the death toll.

TLP chief Rizvi has been held in custody since April when he led protests calling for the expulsion of the French ambassador to Pakistan over comments by French President Emmanuel Macron last October that were interpreted by many as Islamophobic.

Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court ordered that Rizvi be released as there was not enough evidence to hold him under the administrative and anti-terrorism detention orders that had been used to arrest him.

The TLP chief however remains in government custody.

The far-right TLP was declared a “proscribed organisation” under anti-terrorism legislation by the Pakistani government in April, days after police first arrested Rizvi.

On Sunday, Interior Minister Ahmed said the government was willing to drop charges against TLP activists and leaders and to re-examine the cases of dozens of TLP activists whose names have been placed on a list of citizens who are monitored under anti-terrorism laws.

Ahmed said the issue of whether to expel the French ambassador “would be taken to the [parliament] and we will ask for the formation of a committee by the speaker so that work can be started as quickly as possible on this”.

Pakistan releases hundreds of TLP activists as protest continues

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan members released as protest by far-right group demanding chief’s release enters fourth day.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[R Wing]

Message (shorter version):
Please don't hurt us, we'll do anything you say! And more! We want to spread the message loud and clear that anybody can use thuggery to effectively blackmail the government and bring the entire nation to a halt.

Message (longer version):
Threaten a march toward capital like a bunch of thugs (and also kill policemen), and we --- as the State of Pakistan --- will:
1.) Distribute cash to you via DG Rangers Punjab
2.) Do a deal with you via the internal wing Maj Gen of the ISI (it was Faiz back then as a 2-star)
3.) Release your people held in jail for destruction of property, etc.
4.) Unfreeze the accounts of your seminaries
5.) Initiate legal proceedings against judges that question the Army's involvement in appeasement of these elements (at the IHC and SCP)
6.) Try our best to bend over backwards to accommodate your other demands

 

[vi-va]

Message (shorter version):
Please don't hurt us, we'll do anything you say! And more! We want to spread the message loud and clear that anybody can use thuggery to effectively blackmail the government and bring the entire nation to a halt.

Message (longer version):
Threaten a march toward capital like a bunch of thugs (and also kill policemen), and we --- as the State of Pakistan --- will:
1.) Distribute cash to you via DG Rangers Punjab
2.) Do a deal with you via the internal wing Maj Gen of the ISI (it was Faiz back then as a 2-star)
3.) Release your people held in jail for destruction of property, etc.
4.) Unfreeze the accounts of your seminaries
5.) Initiate legal proceedings against judges that question the Army's involvement in appeasement of these elements (at the IHC and SCP)
6.) Try our best to bend over backwards to accommodate your other demands

View attachment 787715

What do most Pakistanis want? Despite being banned, TLP was allowed to contest the elections and secured third place in Karachi by-elections.
I feel it's out of control.

 

[313ghazi]

What do most Pakistanis want? Despite being banned, TLP was allowed to contest the elections and secured third place in Karachi by-elections.
I feel it's out of control.

The situation we are in is a result of decades of hunting with the hounds and running with the fox.

For decades Pakistani govts, military and civillian alike have given religious political parties undue leeway and pandered to their demands, ignoring thier extremism and the potential for it's impact on society. Today it is embedded in our society. You don't have to be religious to be an extremist or a bigot in Pakistan. Extreme partisan opinions have become the norm, nearly everyone thinks it's my way or the highway.

I posted this on another topic about the same protests...

==============
IK govt and Bajwa have consistently mishandled extremism. A few examples that come to mind...

1. Letting PTM contest a seat unchallenged in the election, all that misunderstood brothers nonsense.
2. Buckling to the anti Qaidiyani pressure wrt Atif Mian
3. Negociating with TLP on the French issue in the first place
4. The release of Ehsanullah Ehsan
5. Failure to curb the return of the TTP
6. Failure to launch a full scale operation in Balochistan
7. Failure to fence and mine the border with Iran

Of course our legal system and judicary is to blame too. CJP Drama-baaz Saqib Nisar eventually freed Asia Bibi - but what was done of the 3 judges who convicted her in the presence of such shoddy/flimsy evidence? Or the police who charged her? Nothing. Why were hundreds of terrorists set free by the courts?

The govt itself is now playing a hypocritical role. Saad Rizvi was detained under some flimsy draconion anti terror legislation, they didn't respond to his lawyers and the courts declare his detention illegal months ago. Yet the govt continued. Imran Khan seems to have forgotten how Musharraf arrested him illegally under the same draconion laws in 2007.

You make mistake after mistake - at some point you're so exposed anyone and everyone can have their way with you.

===============

Imran Khan messed up by trying to act like an "Islamic" leader, whilst not realising that infact his domain of influence is limited to a imited coalition government in a poor nation state. He talked the big talk about fighting Islamaphobia and defending the honour of the Prophet (pbuh) but when the opportunity came, he couldn't do it - he couldn't expel the French ambassador out of fear of the political consequences, home and abroad.

He thought he could get the popularity and votes the big man talk would get, without having to expend any effort to back it up and it blew up in his face.

The TLP intially protested when he tried to appoint an adviser who was a religious minority, and Imran Khan backed down via proxy. Atif Mian didn't take up the role. IK knew that even though the TLP has no great level of public support, the anti Qaidiyani perspective they were touting, has deep support in our bigotted society.

They then demanded he kick out the French ambassador when Macron defended their right to blaspheme. The govt promised to take it to parliament within 6 months. When they failed to do that they started the April round of protests and riots, and eventually the govt agreed another deal, after declaring them terrorists and arresting political workers and their party head.

Now the courts have declared his detention illegal, govt has not released him, so they're protesting again demanding his release, on top of their previous demands. The govt has capitulated to their demands because legally it doesn't have a choice. They've released the leader, will soon revert the terrorist status, and are already releasing prisoners and unfreezing accounts.

It's very poor governance.

 

[Itachi]

By Asad Hashim
Published On 25 Oct 2021

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s government has released 350 activists of the far-right Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religious group, the country’s interior minister says, as protests demanding the release of the group’s chief enter their fourth day.

Hundreds of TLP protesters remain encamped on the main highway on Monday near the town of Muridke, about 20km (12 miles) north of Pakistan’s second-biggest city, Lahore, as negotiations between the party’s leadership and a government committee continue.

KEEP READING
More clashes as banned TLP continues protest in Pakistan
Two police officers killed at far-right TLP rally in Pakistan
Pakistan: TLP protesters free abducted policemen after violence
Protests across Pakistan after far-right TLP leader arrested
“We have released 350 TLP workers up to now and we are still waiting to open both sides road of Muridke as per the decision with TLP,” Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, who is heading the government’s negotiating team, said on Sunday.

A “final round” of negotiations will take place in the capital Islamabad on Monday, TLP Central Information Secretary Pir Ejaz Ashrafi told Al Jazeera.

The far-right group, which campaigns on the issue of blasphemy and has held several countrywide demonstrations that have paralysed Pakistan in recent years, began a protest demanding the release of its chief, Saad Rizvi, in Lahore on Friday.

TLP supporters chant slogans during a protest march towards Islamabad [KM Chaudary/AP]
At least two policemen were killed during clashes between protesters and riot police in Lahore, authorities said, with unconfirmed reports of several protesters also being killed.

TLP official Ashrafi said at least seven protesters had been killed in the clashes, which saw police firing tear gas shells at protesters and authorities putting up roadblocks and digging trenches to attempt to control the demonstrators’ movements.

Al Jazeera has been unable to independently verify the death toll.

TLP chief Rizvi has been held in custody since April when he led protests calling for the expulsion of the French ambassador to Pakistan over comments by French President Emmanuel Macron last October that were interpreted by many as Islamophobic.

Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court ordered that Rizvi be released as there was not enough evidence to hold him under the administrative and anti-terrorism detention orders that had been used to arrest him.

The TLP chief however remains in government custody.

The far-right TLP was declared a “proscribed organisation” under anti-terrorism legislation by the Pakistani government in April, days after police first arrested Rizvi.

On Sunday, Interior Minister Ahmed said the government was willing to drop charges against TLP activists and leaders and to re-examine the cases of dozens of TLP activists whose names have been placed on a list of citizens who are monitored under anti-terrorism laws.

Ahmed said the issue of whether to expel the French ambassador “would be taken to the [parliament] and we will ask for the formation of a committee by the speaker so that work can be started as quickly as possible on this”.

Pakistan releases hundreds of TLP activists as protest continues

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan members released as protest by far-right group demanding chief’s release enters fourth day.

www.aljazeera.com

Mubarak ho!!

What do most Pakistanis want? Despite being banned, TLP was allowed to contest the elections and secured third place in Karachi by-elections.
I feel it's out of control.

What an average Pakistani living in Pakistan wants is very different from what a PDF Pakistani wants.....just fyi lol

Moving on to your question, the initial demands set forth by Rizvi.....lets call them "requests" are mostly favored by the majority of Pakistan. Which is why, as you mentioned, despite being banned.....they secured third place in Pakistan's most populated city (and the only major trade hub/port).

In short, many Pakistanis (outside PDF lol) sympathize with TLP. Most Pakistani are religious, whether that be by actions or name is up to you.

 

[vi-va]

The situation we are in is a result of decades of hunting with the hounds and running with the fox.

For decades Pakistani govts, military and civillian alike have given religious political parties undue leeway and pandered to their demands, ignoring thier extremism and the potential for it's impact on society. Today it is embedded in our society. You don't have to be religious to be an extremist or a bigot in Pakistan. Extreme partisan opinions have become the norm, nearly everyone thinks it's my way or the highway.

I posted this on another topic about the same protests...

==============
IK govt and Bajwa have consistently mishandled extremism. A few examples that come to mind...

1. Letting PTM contest a seat unchallenged in the election, all that misunderstood brothers nonsense.
2. Buckling to the anti Qaidiyani pressure wrt Atif Mian
3. Negociating with TLP on the French issue in the first place
4. The release of Ehsanullah Ehsan
5. Failure to curb the return of the TTP
6. Failure to launch a full scale operation in Balochistan
7. Failure to fence and mine the border with Iran

Of course our legal system and judicary is to blame too. CJP Drama-baaz Saqib Nisar eventually freed Asia Bibi - but what was done of the 3 judges who convicted her in the presence of such shoddy/flimsy evidence? Or the police who charged her? Nothing. Why were hundreds of terrorists set free by the courts?

The govt itself is now playing a hypocritical role. Saad Rizvi was detained under some flimsy draconion anti terror legislation, they didn't respond to his lawyers and the courts declare his detention illegal months ago. Yet the govt continued. Imran Khan seems to have forgotten how Musharraf arrested him illegally under the same draconion laws in 2007.

You make mistake after mistake - at some point you're so exposed anyone and everyone can have their way with you.

===============

Imran Khan messed up by trying to act like an "Islamic" leader, whilst not realising that infact his domain of influence is limited to a imited coalition government in a poor nation state. He talked the big talk about fighting Islamaphobia and defending the honour of the Prophet (pbuh) but when the opportunity came, he couldn't do it - he couldn't expel the French ambassador out of fear of the political consequences, home and abroad.

He thought he could get the popularity and votes the big man talk would get, without having to expend any effort to back it up and it blew up in his face.

The TLP intially protested when he tried to appoint an adviser who was a religious minority, and Imran Khan backed down via proxy. Atif Mian didn't take up the role. IK knew that even though the TLP has no great level of public support, the anti Qaidiyani perspective they were touting, has deep support in our bigotted society.

They then demanded he kick out the French ambassador when Macron defended their right to blaspheme. The govt promised to take it to parliament within 6 months. When they failed to do that they started the April round of protests and riots, and eventually the govt agreed another deal, after declaring them terrorists and arresting political workers and their party head.

Now the courts have declared his detention illegal, govt has not released him, so they're protesting again demanding his release, on top of their previous demands. The govt has capitulated to their demands because legally it doesn't have a choice. They've released the leader, will soon revert the terrorist status, and are already releasing prisoners and unfreezing accounts.

It's very poor governance.

I think government will be bitten badly this time.

The moment it releases TLP, it lost the battle legally. It will encourage TLP and raise their bid, and raise their bid again and again.

As I posted many times, it's the one man one vote system weakness that, when many political parties fight with each other, common enemies of the ordinary people win. Orgs like TLP will eat Pakistan society piece by piece alive.

 

[Itachi]

The moment it releases TLP, it lost the battle legally

There was no legal reason to detain them in the first place, unless they were damaging public and private property along with lives. Some of them were but that's normal in Pakistan whenever protests happens.

The detention of their current chief, Saad Rizvi, son of Khadim Rizvi (progenitor of TLP) on the other hand was illegal since he was detained under a anti-terrorist act. He didn't do any "terrorism" and neither did some of the courts think he did.

Which is why he'll also be released soon too. InShaAllah.

 

[vi-va]

Mubarak ho!!

What an average Pakistani living in Pakistan wants is very different from what a PDF Pakistani wants.....just fyi lol

Moving on to your question, the initial demands set forth by Rizvi.....lets call them "requests" are mostly favored by the majority of Pakistan. Which is why, as you mentioned, despite being banned.....they secured third place in Pakistan's most populated city (and the only major trade hub/port).

In short, many Pakistanis (outside PDF lol) sympathize with TLP. Most Pakistani are religious, whether that be by actions or name is up to you.

Thanks. I understand.

99% of Pakistanis and PDF Pakistani members here are so different, I guess it's because of the education and grow up environment, especially those overseas.

 

[Itachi]

especially those overseas

Bingo. We have more oversea Pakistanis active on PDF than Pakistanis I think. And even a lot of Pakistanis living in Pakistan on here are very liberal/secular. Average Pakistani hates liberals/seculars.

 

[Hareeb]

Ajeeb chutiya mulk ha bhai, anyone, anytime gathers a few hundred people and pressurizes and dictates the state.

Bingo. We have more oversea Pakistanis active on PDF than Pakistanis I think. And even a lot of Pakistanis living in Pakistan on here are very liberal/secular. Average Pakistani hates liberals/seculars.

Nothing wrong in being liberal. But in Pakistan, the ones who call themselves liberal aren't liberal but pseudo-liberals.

 

[313ghazi]

I think government will be bitten badly this time.

The moment it releases TLP, it lost the battle legally. It will encourage TLP and raise their bid, and raise their bid again and again.

As I posted many times, it's the one man one vote system weakness that, when many political parties fight with each other, common enemies of the ordinary people win. Orgs like TLP will eat Pakistan society piece by piece alive.

Agree 100% about democracy. Its a popularity contest first and foremost.

 

[R Wing]

What do most Pakistanis want? Despite being banned, TLP was allowed to contest the elections and secured third place in Karachi by-elections.
I feel it's out of control.

Of course it's out of control. If you don't control and train an aggressive dog as a puppy, it's going to grow up and become a pretty big nuisance!

 

[R Wing]

Ajeeb chutiya mulk ha bhai, anyone, anytime gathers a few hundred people and pressurizes and dictates the state.

Nothing wrong in being liberal. But in Pakistan, the ones who call themselves liberal aren't liberal but pseudo-liberals.

Give this man a medal!

 

[SQ8]

The leadership of these ignorant barbarians runs around with iPhones and rolexes and hides them giving speeches. A now externally supported force that has no relationship to the idea of protesting blasphemous content against the prophet.

But unfortunately, there is no one to give any guidance to them anymore. After all, Musaylima Kazzab had his followers and the TLP have theirs.

The state has resigned itself to using repeated catch and release as the tactic to avoid these guys stepping the 1mm they are away from becoming TTP like terrorists.

 

[vi-va]

There was no legal reason to detain them in the first place, unless they were damaging public and private property along with lives. Some of them were but that's normal in Pakistan whenever protests happens.

The detention of their current chief, Saad Rizvi, son of Khadim Rizvi (progenitor of TLP) on the other hand was illegal since he was detained under a anti-terrorist act. He didn't do any "terrorism" and neither did some of the courts think he did.

Which is why he'll also be released soon too. InShaAllah.

So you believe IK made the wrong move in the first place? I think some "request" of TLP make sense to a certain extent, such as expel France ambassador. Cause the majority of Pakistanis feel offended by France.

But still TLP is dangerous to Pakistan society and government, TLP political agenda isn't in Pakistan long term national interest.

IK should control TLP more wisely, or I say it's already too late to control TLP now. It's much better to control it in 2015.