The Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has agreed to end its march on Islamabad after the success of the negotiations at Wazirabad. The government may well be satisfied that it has postponed the danger for now, but the cost has been heavy. For one thing, it was very significant that the details of the agreement were not made public, which made it clear that either the government had agreed to do things it was too embarrassed to admit, or it was the TLP that needed its blushes spared, because it had given up core demands, or perhaps both. For another, the replacement of the government’s original team by another, headed by Mufti Muneebur Rehman, shows the low credibility of government ministers. Statements of federal ministers during the protests showed that the Prime Minister lacked sufficient control over his Cabinet. The other main figure who had his image tarnished was Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, who was not only hapless, but was rejected as a negotiator by the TLP.
Though the TLP has ended its protest, on unknown terms and after making unspecified commitments, it has emerged the gainer. Its imprisoned leader is likely now to be released, and that too with his visibility and his credibility enhanced. At the same time, there is nothing to guarantee that the TLP will not revive its demand for the expulsion of the French ambassador. It is likely enough that the government will give it cause. The secrecy surrounding the agreement will better allow the TLP to claim violation.
The agreement is secret, but it should not include any immunity for those guilty of killing seven policemen. The killers of those who died during the previous TLP protests have still not been brought to book, and the addition of more policemen killed merely adds insult to injury. The doling of compensation and jobs to survivors does nothing to calm the rank and file of those who will have to put their lives on the line at the next violent protest. And past events indicate that the TLP protest may have ended, but can again be revived. Even if it is not the TLP that takes to the streets, the government will need the police to control any crowd. It cannot afford to have any doubts about its reliability.
