Govt, protesters reach agreement to end countrywide protests

ISLAMABAD: The government and the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesting the acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case have reached an agreement following successful negotiations to end demonstrations across the country.

According to the agreement, a review appeal filed in the case of Aasia Bibi is a legal right of the complainants and government will have no objection on it.

Besides, the government will take legal measures to place Aasia Bibi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) and protesters taken into custody by law enforcers from Oct 30 onwards will be released forthwith.

Legal action will be taken to redress deaths, if any, occurred during the protests.

The agreement bears the signatures of Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sahibzada Dr Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, provincial law minister Raja Basharat and Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leaders Pir Afzal Qadri and Muhammad Waheed Noor.

The protesting groups led by the TLP continued their protests for a third consecutive day on Friday, blocking roads in several cities and towns of the country.

The protests had begun following the Supreme Court’s October 31 verdict acquitting Aasia Bibi of blasphemy charges.

Schools and colleges remained closed while mobile phone services were also suspended in several cities as the law enforcers struggled to maintain law and order situation that hit routine life hard, taking heavy toll on commercial and business activities in several cities, including the country’s economic nerve center, Karachi.