LAHORE: Despite successful negotiations between government and the protestors occupying Faizabad sit-in after an unsuccessful operation by the Law enforcement Agencies, protesters in various parts of Lahore refuse to disperse and amongst other areas, have continued their sit-in in front of Punjab Assembly.
Earlier on Monday morning, Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi ordered his followers to end sit-ins across the country after the government gave in to their demands, however, Mall road and Shahdara area in Lahore is still occupied by protesters and there are no signs of their evacuation.
According to the agreement reached between the government and TLYR, an enquiry board will be set up so that action can be taken against those responsible for the controversial amendment to the finality of Prophethood declaration for electoral candidates within 30 days.
The protesters in Lahore are currently occupying Faisal Chowk (former charing cross), in front of Punjab Assembly, under the patronage of Tehreek Sirat-e-Mustaqeem Founder Ashraf Asif Jalali.
Ashraf Asif Jalali and his followers are refusing to budge from the scene because according to them although the government has verbally accepted a few of their demands, no action has been taken thus far. Jalali asked his workers to continue the sit-in for the third consecutive day and wait for the future course of action.
The group’s demands include the resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and appearance before the court of Sunni Ullema. The religious leader also called for disqualification of all parliamentarians involved in the proposal of the amendment in Khatm-e-Nabuwwat clause, urging the government to release the name of the ‘mastermind’ who hurt religious sentiments of Muslims.
Similarly, Shahdara, which saw the most violent of clashes between police and protesters over the course of last few days, is also still occupied by members of the religious party.
Earlier, members of TLYR also held a protest at Jati Umrah, the residence of the Sharif family and dispersed peacefully on their own after chanting slogans against the government and registering their disproval of the operation in Faizabad.
As per the latest reports, the protesters gathered at Faisal Chowk will offer funeral prayer of those killed in the Faizabad operation at 3 pm on Monday.
