TLP protests: Over 5,000 booked in govt crackdown a day after deal

[notorious_eagle]

ISLAMABAD / LAHORE:

A day after ‘striking a deal’ with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters, the government on Tuesday swung into action as it started a crackdown against the people who vandalised public properties – in the wake of the apex court’s Oct 31 verdict – while also booking the top TLP leadership.


Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently on an official trip to China, reportedly expressed his anger over damage to public and private properties during the three-day-long protests that erupted after the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi, a blasphemy accused.

The PM ordered the arrest of the people who were engaged in vandalism and directed the federal government to work in collaboration with the provincial governments.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi on Saturday received a briefing from various law-enforcement agencies about the current situation in the country.



He said he had decided to start a crackdown across the country on the miscreants who damaged the property and harmed the unarmed citizens in the name of protests.

“I respect the religious scholars who said they were not involved in the damage and that some miscreants were doing this. The interior ministry is taking steps to identify those miscreants,” he said.

Afridi said those who spread provocative material and hate speech on social media would also face action, adding that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman and the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing had been ordered to take action against such people.

The cybercrime wing and the PTA are reviewing such material on social media. The interior ministry has also asked the provincial governments, including the Punjab government, and other agencies to provide details of the damages and footages of the persons involved in vandalism.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said action against extremism and violent protests was necessary and the PTI government was trying to find permanent solutions to the issues. “Only positive actions will solve the problems. The PTI government is resolved to take this steps,” he said while talking to BBC.

He said a permanent solution to extremism and violent protests had to be looked for. “The court will see whether Asia Bibi will leave the country or not,” he said in response to a query.

Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed also announced that those who damaged the properties on the highways and motorways would be taken to task.

“Videos and photos of these activities will be reviewed in detail. Those who inflicted loss of billions of rupees on the national exchequer in the name of protests will be held accountable,” he said.

TLP announces another march on Islamabad

Cases registered

In Lahore, the police registered 11 cases against 1,500 persons including the TLP leaders – Allama Khadim Hussian Rizvi and Pir Afzal Qadri – for blocking roads and creating law and order situation. The FIRs against Qadri and Rizvi have been sealed.

In Faisalabad, the police registered 29 cases against 3,000 protestors and arrested 218 persons from across the district. In Chiniot 3 cases were registered and 13 persons were arrested; in Sargodha 2 cases were registered against 300 persons and in Jhang two cases were registered against 150 persons. Twelve of these people were arrested.

In Okara, FIR was registered against 200 people. Twenty people later got bails and released. The Rawalpindi police also registered 18 cases against hundreds of TLP workers while 16 workers were released on Saturday.

In Islamabad two cases were registered against more than 100 accused, including 20 workers of a religious party. In Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Pehlwan Goth areas, three persons were arrested for firing and forcing people to shut down their businesses.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1840198/1-5000-booked-govt-crackdown-day-deal/

Government finally seems to be doing its job. Maybe this was a chess move by PTI, to disperse the crowds and then go after the attackers. It looks like the TLP got fooled by the Government.

 

[war&peace]

Swung into action but what about the damage done to the poor people and the economy of the country? Isn't the incompetence/unpreparedness of the govt and non-existence of the liaison between the state institutions responsible for all this damage?

Govt can establish its writ on the streets and people only after it has established a writ on the bureaucracy and other state institutions.

 

[Windjammer]

Swung into action but what about the damage done to the poor people and the economy of the country? Isn't the incompetence/unpreparedness of the govt and non-existence of the liaison between the state institution responsible for all this damage?

Basically this is the practice carried all over the world, London and Los Angeles riots being prime examples.
The frenzied mobs are allowed to let out their steam and then hunt them down.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

ISLAMABAD / LAHORE:

A day after ‘striking a deal’ with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters, the government on Tuesday swung into action as it started a crackdown against the people who vandalised public properties – in the wake of the apex court’s Oct 31 verdict – while also booking the top TLP leadership.


Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently on an official trip to China, reportedly expressed his anger over damage to public and private properties during the three-day-long protests that erupted after the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi, a blasphemy accused.

The PM ordered the arrest of the people who were engaged in vandalism and directed the federal government to work in collaboration with the provincial governments.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi on Saturday received a briefing from various law-enforcement agencies about the current situation in the country.



He said he had decided to start a crackdown across the country on the miscreants who damaged the property and harmed the unarmed citizens in the name of protests.

“I respect the religious scholars who said they were not involved in the damage and that some miscreants were doing this. The interior ministry is taking steps to identify those miscreants,” he said.

Afridi said those who spread provocative material and hate speech on social media would also face action, adding that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman and the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime Wing had been ordered to take action against such people.

The cybercrime wing and the PTA are reviewing such material on social media. The interior ministry has also asked the provincial governments, including the Punjab government, and other agencies to provide details of the damages and footages of the persons involved in vandalism.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said action against extremism and violent protests was necessary and the PTI government was trying to find permanent solutions to the issues. “Only positive actions will solve the problems. The PTI government is resolved to take this steps,” he said while talking to BBC.

He said a permanent solution to extremism and violent protests had to be looked for. “The court will see whether Asia Bibi will leave the country or not,” he said in response to a query.

Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed also announced that those who damaged the properties on the highways and motorways would be taken to task.

“Videos and photos of these activities will be reviewed in detail. Those who inflicted loss of billions of rupees on the national exchequer in the name of protests will be held accountable,” he said.

TLP announces another march on Islamabad

Cases registered

In Lahore, the police registered 11 cases against 1,500 persons including the TLP leaders – Allama Khadim Hussian Rizvi and Pir Afzal Qadri – for blocking roads and creating law and order situation. The FIRs against Qadri and Rizvi have been sealed.

In Faisalabad, the police registered 29 cases against 3,000 protestors and arrested 218 persons from across the district. In Chiniot 3 cases were registered and 13 persons were arrested; in Sargodha 2 cases were registered against 300 persons and in Jhang two cases were registered against 150 persons. Twelve of these people were arrested.

In Okara, FIR was registered against 200 people. Twenty people later got bails and released. The Rawalpindi police also registered 18 cases against hundreds of TLP workers while 16 workers were released on Saturday.

In Islamabad two cases were registered against more than 100 accused, including 20 workers of a religious party. In Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Pehlwan Goth areas, three persons were arrested for firing and forcing people to shut down their businesses.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1840198/1-5000-booked-govt-crackdown-day-deal/

Government finally seems to be doing its job. Maybe this was a chess move by PTI, to disperse the crowds and then go after the attackers. It looks like the TLP got fooled by the Government.

Loving it. This is exactly what the UK government did in the 2011 riots. Contained the riots for 48 but noted and observed those who were involved. Then after crowds dispersed swung into action. Rioteers got stiff sentences. Pakistan please prove you are not a fragile state. I am expecting things to really roll when PM IK get's back. For sure top leaders of TLP need to be locked up. That will send potent message to future trouble makers.

In any civilized society the final arbiter of justice is the courts. Just because they make judgements you don't like you can't just act with impunity and call the judges wajib ul Qatl or implore soldiers to mutiny against the COAS Bajwa.

Bottom Line: It's about time people understood religion is not a 'tool' to be used at drop of a hat. You see this habit even on PDF. Don't like what somebody says in a discussion? All of sudden become the 'owner' of Islam and start dishing out "your not a Muslim" etc in order to win a argumant. It's like as if each person thinks they carry Islam on their shoulder to be used whenever they feel like it.

This habit runs across Pakistan. Rizvi and TLP of course think they have Islam on their shoulders and that justifies them even taking on the supreme court, the army, the Pakistan state. So does every two bit religious group including TTP. Each is entirely convinced they have Allah on their side. The result is chaos as everybody starts acting as fully appointed agent of Allah. As I said this mindset is even seen on PDF. Either impliciitly where some comment will be made to question the other's faith etc.

 

[GHALIB]

Loving it. This is exactly what the UK government did in the 2011 riots. Contained the riots for 48 but noted and observed those who were involved. Then after crowds dispersed swung into action. Rioteers got stiff sentences. Pakistan please prove you are not a fragile state. I am expecting things to really roll when PM IK get's back. For sure top leaders of TLP need to be locked up. That will send potent message to future trouble makers.

In any civilized society the final arbiter of justice is the courts. Just because they make judgements you don't like you can't just act with impunity and call the judges wajib ul Qatl or implore soldiers to mutiny against the COAS Bajwa.

Bottom Line: It's about time people understood religion is not a 'tool' to be used at drop of a hat. You see this habit even on PDF. Don't like what somebody says in a discussion? All of sudden become the 'owner' of Islam and start dishing out "your not a Muslim" etc in order to win a argumant. It's like as if each person thinks they carry Islam on their shoulder to be used whenever they feel like it.

This habit runs across Pakistan. Rizvi and TLP of course think they have Islam on their shoulders and that justifies them even taking on the supreme court, the army, the Pakistan state. So does every two bit religious group including TTP. Each is entirely convinced they have Allah on their side. The result is chaos as everybody starts acting as fully appointed agent of Allah. As I said this mindset is even seen on PDF. Either impliciitly where some comment will be made to question the other's faith etc.

well said .

 

[war&peace]

Basically this is the practice carried all over the world, London and Los Angeles riots being prime examples.
The frenzied mobs are allowed to let out their steam and then hunt them down.

What I feel that of this could have been averted in Pakistan through wisdom at govt's part. If courts took the govt into confidence over the verdict at least a week or two before and did not interfere in the appointment of the IG, the situation could have been much better.
Even better would be the case of the govt had a three months time before the announcement of the verdict. In those 90-days govt should have used media and scholars to teach the lesson of kindness and mercy that Islam teaches.

 

[Dark-Destroyer]

Basically this is the practice carried all over the world, London and Los Angeles riots being prime examples.
The frenzied mobs are allowed to let out their steam and then hunt them down.

People dont seem to get it

What I feel that of this could have been averted in Pakistan through wisdom at govt's part. If courts took the govt into confidence over the verdict at least a week or two before and did not interfere in the appointment of the IG, the situation could have been much better.
Even better would be the case of the govt had a three months time before the announcement of the verdict. In those 90-days govt should have used media and scholars to teach the lesson of kindness and mercy that Islam teaches.

It wouldnt have many people used the protests as an excuse to loot and plunder

 

[Imran Khan]

great news lets hope they will be puished

 

[Path-Finder]

In the 70's and 80's even up to mid 90's there used to be a lot of riots in Britain. The police has dealt with sever riots and devised solutions for such violent outlashes. Problem is in Pakistan the Riot training is extremely basic and there is no dedicated anti-riot school like the way Pakistan has developed counter terrorism school.

This is a weak point in Pakistan unfortunately the police is always found to be incapacitated when it needs to step up and deliver on their promise of 'protect and serve'.

As I mentioned There needs to be something like Pakistan reserves which can be activated to deal with such situation in the country.

More importantly the only utensil you see the police with is either a Type 56 or a danda! These are never going to deal with the rioters. These are many applicable tools and techniques that should be invested in to deal with rioters. Using more water cannons maybe and other non lethal options can incapacitate the rioters and neutralise them without causing them much harm.

This is the weak point in the first line of defense, the police. strengthening the police to work and providing them with the right tools for the situation is the only way forward.

 

[Chakar The Great]

Excellent, now punish them all. No mercy on the part of state.

 

[AZ1]

What I feel that of this could have been averted in Pakistan through wisdom at govt's part. If courts took the govt into confidence over the verdict at least a week or two before and did not interfere in the appointment of the IG, the situation could have been much better.
Even better would be the case of the govt had a three months time before the announcement of the verdict. In those 90-days govt should have used media and scholars to teach the lesson of kindness and mercy that Islam teaches.

Yeah give public another false face of the govt that court took the decision because PTI said so.

What we need in such cases presence of mufti Islamic Scholar to be part of such judgement so that it doesn't create any doubt in public mind at all. Remember this is Islamic Country and these cases are soo sensitive and we all see how people blame court, army, govt that they do what Western says. We have to protect riots and economy of Pakistan and at the same time sentiments of our people.

 

[war&peace]

Yeah give public another false face of the govt that court took the decision because PTI said so.

Well, IK did exactly that through his tough speech after the verdict so people got that impression anyway.

What we need in such cases presence of mufti Islamic Scholar to be part of such judgement so that it doesn't create any doubt in public mind at all. Remember this is Islamic Country and these cases are soo sensitive and we all see how people blame court, army, govt that they do what Western says. We have to protect riots and economy of Pakistan and at the same time sentiments of our people.

Exactly, if it was decided by a shariah court, the response of the people would have been drastically different. Basically people have lost trust on the judicial system in Pakistan and I have said time and again that the root cause of problems in Pakistan is the social and legal justice and the judiciary the country inherited from the colonial past is totally obsolete, inadequate, highly corrupt and biased

It wouldnt have many people used the protests as an excuse to loot and plunder

I believe that most of the people in Punjab are basically PMLn's workers otherwise it was not so bad in other province where PMLn has no such presence. Their aim was to bring down this govt through this event.

 

[Nefarious]

Remember after UK riots a girl was sentenced for 6 months prison for stealing £3.50 pack of water from Lidl.

Let's see.

 

[notorious_eagle]

Loving it. This is exactly what the UK government did in the 2011 riots. Contained the riots for 48 but noted and observed those who were involved. Then after crowds dispersed swung into action. Rioteers got stiff sentences. Pakistan please prove you are not a fragile state. I am expecting things to really roll when PM IK get's back. For sure top leaders of TLP need to be locked up. That will send potent message to future trouble makers.

In any civilized society the final arbiter of justice is the courts. Just because they make judgements you don't like you can't just act with impunity and call the judges wajib ul Qatl or implore soldiers to mutiny against the COAS Bajwa.

Bottom Line: It's about time people understood religion is not a 'tool' to be used at drop of a hat. You see this habit even on PDF. Don't like what somebody says in a discussion? All of sudden become the 'owner' of Islam and start dishing out "your not a Muslim" etc in order to win a argumant. It's like as if each person thinks they carry Islam on their shoulder to be used whenever they feel like it.

This habit runs across Pakistan. Rizvi and TLP of course think they have Islam on their shoulders and that justifies them even taking on the supreme court, the army, the Pakistan state. So does every two bit religious group including TTP. Each is entirely convinced they have Allah on their side. The result is chaos as everybody starts acting as fully appointed agent of Allah. As I said this mindset is even seen on PDF. Either impliciitly where some comment will be made to question the other's faith etc.

Good Post. I do agree with you that the final arbiter of justice are the courts. Here are some excerpts from the agreement:

He said according to the legal procedure, Aasia Bibi’s name could only be placed on the ECL on the court orders, and the Interior ministry could not take any decision on its own.

He said it was agreed that those detained in the police stations would be released immediately, but those sent to jails after registration of FIRs would only be set free on the orders of the court.

It seems that TLP got outsmarted by the PTI led government.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

This is a weak point in Pakistan unfortunately the police is always found to be incapacitated when it needs to step up and deliver on their promise of 'protect and serve'.

Fantastic point. I honestly think Pakistan needs to chop down some expenditure on the military. Prime for that is the navy. Scrap a few ships and the $100s millions saved plough it into police. Armoured police vehicles, 10,000s of riot gear, advanced training in riot control, few police helicopters with latest electronic devices with cameras etc. Then deploy these professional forces when such events unfold.

Pakistani citizens face far greater threats in their towns then they do in high seas. Pakistan needs dedicated Turkish style Jandarma force. In a country of 70 million [three times smaller then Pak] it has -

Active

• 1839 (Official claim)
• June 10, 1930 (as Gendarmerie Organisation)
• 1956 (as Gendarmerie General Command)[1]

Country

Turkey
Type Gendarmerie
Role Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, armed response to civil unrest, counter terrorism, special weapons operations.

Size 276,320 sworn members[2]
1,475 Armored and utility vehicles
59 Helicopters

Part of Ministry of the Interior (in peacetime)
Turkish Armed Forces (in wartime)
Headquarters Ankara