- Islamabad protest spills over to Karachi causing traffic jam
ISLAMABAD: Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman urged the federal government on Saturday to end the sit-in by religious groups through dialogue and not use force against the groups of religious parties to end the two-week-long sit-in at Faizabad Interchange outside Islamabad.
He said this after holding a meeting with leaders of the protest as Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed authorities to defer a joint operation against the protesters by 24 hours.
The religious cleric asked the government to send an empowered delegation to the protestors to hold final and fruitful negotiations.
Earlier, Ahsan Iqbal appealed to Ulema to play their role in ending the sit-in which has paralyzed Islamabad and Rawalpindi by blocking the main Faizabad Interchange for last 11 days, despite Islamabad High Court’s orders to vacate the place.
The protestors are calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 ─ which had earlier been deemed a clerical error by the government and subsequently rectified by the Parliament.
Moreover, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee also announced to meet on Sunday for the sighting of Rabiul Awwal moon. According to a statement, the meeting will be presided over by its Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman.
Separately, the Islamabad protest spilt over to Karachi on Saturday evening causing a traffic jam on MA Jinnah Road. The protesters staged a sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi, blocking the way to MA Jinnah Road, Garden, and Soldier Bazaar.
The road from Saddar Parking Plaza to People’s Secretariat was clogged. Responding to the traffic situation, the traffic police advised the people to avoid Numaish Chowrangi and instead choose routes leading from Shahrah-e-Faisal and Garden.
The protesters claimed that they will not move till the demands of the protesters in Islamabad are met.
