Talks have failed, TLP asserts

—Punjab info minister had claimed of on-going negotiations with protesters and an early end to sit-ins

–TLP chief says govt threatened to ‘kill him, followers’; govt yet to respond

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi claimed late Thursday night that talks with the government to end the on-going protests against Aasiya Bibi’s acquittal have “failed” despite the latter’s stance that both sides have entered the ‘final’ round of negotiations.

In a late night tweet, the TLP chief and firebrand religious leader said, “Dialogue [with the government] failed.”

Dialogue failed.Govt & ISI threatened the Dharna participant with direct shooting.
All the lovers of the Prophet and Ahle Sunnat public should gear up to embrace martyrdom for the honour of the Prophet.
We won’t bend2any threat,
2morow nation wide wheeljam strike will be observed

— Khadim Hussain Rizvi (@KhadimRizviReal) November 1, 2018

He warned that his workers will “gear up to embrace martyrdom” while observing a complete shutdown strike on Friday.

He also claimed that the authorities, including the civil administration and security agencies, have threatened with “direct shooting”. There was no response of the government to these claims at the time of the filing of the report.

Earlier in the day, the federal government had decided to negotiate with the protesting religio-political parties as Prime Minister Imran Khan formed a committee, comprising Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi, in this regard. Even though, the prime minister will oversee the process, the actual discussions with the religious outfits will be handled by Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri, as per the reports.

The decision came after an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet was held in Islamabad ahead of the PM’s departure to China on a four-day visit.

‘NATIONS WILL HEAR GOOD NEWS’

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi, during an address to the National Assembly on Thursday, informed lawmakers that the government was in talks with religio-political parties protesting against Aasiya Bibi’s acquittal, adding that the nation would soon hear good news.

The minister categorically declared that there would be no compromise on the rule of law and supremacy of law. “This is the message that this house needs to convey to the whole world,” he said.

“No one needs to get a certificate from anyone else, no one can dictate to anyone else,” he said, adding that the protection of lives and places of worship of minorities is the responsibility of the state.

Afridi added that no one would be allowed to misuse the present situation for political gain. “In the past, religion was used for political purposes and to malign each other. This will not happen in naya Pakistan,” he claimed.

“The PM has asked me to contact other parliamentary parties, including the PML-N and the PPP, on the issue.”

CHAUHAN CLAIMS DIALOGUE WITH TLP:

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chauhan has said that the government has held five rounds of talks with the protesters so far and the government was hopeful that the sit-in will end tonight.

The workers of religio-political parties, including the TLP, have been protesting against the acquittal of Christian blasphemy convict Aasiya Bibi by the Supreme Court and have paralysed major cities and blocked important motorways and highways.

Moreover, roads have been blocked and educational institutes have been closed due to the protests.

Chauhan said negotiations have been ongoing with the protesters from the past 36 hours, adding that the government has refrained from using force to disperse the protests.

This is a developing story