Negotiations were held with TLP until last moment: Mohsin Naqvi

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) continued until the marchers left for Islamabad.

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital Islamabad, Naqvi said that government's representatives told the protesters that no action would be taken against them if they choose to go back. He said the protesters continued to add to their demands and they demanded release of murderers from jails. He said that action was taken only against those who took up arms. He dispelled the impression that talks were not held with the TLP.

"What's the reason that a big protest is necessary every 15 days?" he asked. "We only got the road cleared from violent people. The demand was made for the release of a terrorist. People's vehicles were taken at gunpoint and forced to join the protest," he said. He said there is footage of TLP protesters forcing vehicle owners to join their march at gunpoint.

Naqvi said no action would be taken against any madrasa or scholar except TLP activists. He said the government would observe Friday as Thanksgiving Day to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire and religious scholars would join these celebrations. He said it was up to the TLP to decide whether it wants to observe the Thanksgiving Day on Friday or stage a protest with weapons.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf were also present at the news conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Tarar said the Palestinian president thanked Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for playing a role in the Gaza ceasefire. He said that pro-Palestine protests were held all over the world but no damage was done to people’s properties. He said the TLP came out with modern weapons, rifles and other things. He said that a station house officer (SHO) of the Punjab Police was taken out of his car and shot 21 times. “What was his fault that he was shot 21 times?” he asked.

Tarar said the government would not allow anyone to carry out arson attacks, lay siege to the federal capital or disturb peace. He said that more than 100 police officers were subjected to torture during the protest. He said that violent attacks were carried out in the name of protest. He said the protesters were armed with modern weapons and they damaged public and private properties.