Tensions ease as govt holds two successful rounds of talks with TLP leadership

ISLAMABAD: Tensions started to ease out on Monday as the dialogue between the Punjab government and banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) made headway as the delegations of both the sides met in Lahore to resolve the tiff over demands to deport French ambassador.
Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry took to social media site, Twitter, to announce that after first successful round of talks between the two sides, the second round of talks between the banned TLP and the Punjab government has come to an end some time ago.
He said that Law Minister Raja Basharat represented the Punjab government in talks. Fawad said that the third round of talks would be held at 10 pm with the participation of Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri.
Informed sources told Pakistan Today that during the first round of talks, Punjab government delegation led by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and Law Minister Basharat called on a five-member TLP delegation at a neutral place near Babu Sabu interchange in Lahore.
Sources said that during talks held in wee hours on Monday morning, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire. They said that TLP’s local leadership agreed to release eleven policemen abducted by the banned organisation from Nawankot Police Station, Lahore, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP).
“In exchange of release of the policemen, Punjab government agreed to release two leaders of the banned organisation who had been picked under 16 MPO. The TLP leadership also demanded the release of its chief Saad Rizvi which was rejected by the Punjab government. Demands were also made by TLP to end the trial of the TLP workers which was also rejected by the Punjab government,” a source said.
Sources said that later in the day, the second round of talks took place in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail as a delegation of Sunni scholars met with TLP chief Rizvi. The delegation included Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, Mian Jalil Sharaqpuri, Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair and others.
Sources also said that during the talks, the Mashaikh delegation urged Rizvi to call off the long march call given for April 20 and direct the workers to end the protest peacefully.
“The scholars also urged Rizvi to withdraw his demand of deporting the French envoy as it would only the enemies of Pakistan,” a source said and added that Rizvi urged the delegation to persuade the federal and provincial governments to withdraw all cases registered under terrorism clause against the TLP leadership and workers and also release all workers arrested.
Sources said that Rizvi also urged the Ulema to demand the federal and provincial governments to withdraw its decision of listing the TLP as terrorist organisation. According to sources, the delegation of Ulema asked Rizvi to end the protest while the Ulema said that the chaos and arson had damaged their own country so an atmosphere of peace and order should be maintained in the country.
Sources said that the clerics asked Rizvi to release a video message requesting the protesters to end their protest. The scholars appealed to Rizvi to end the sit-in in Lahore.
Source also said that the talks between Rizvi and the delegation of Ulema continued for over five hours while the negotiating team also had Iftar with Rizvi in jail. According to sources, the scholars tried to persuade Rizvi to resolve the issues amicably.
Another source said that Rizvi did not ask for withdrawal of terrorism cases and he only talked about release of workers detained under 16 MPO.
The source said that the scholars’ delegation agreed to convey the TLP chief’s demands to the federal and Punjab government who had the powers to doing so.
“Hence, the third round of talks was agreed and it was decided that Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri who would take decisions about the cases registered against the TLP chief and workers,” a source said.