‘Release of activists prime condition to end Islamabad sit-in’ – Khadim Rizvi

ISLAMABAD: Keeping conditions to call off Faizabad sit-in, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi on Monday announced reaching an agreement with the government authorities.

Addressing a press conference here, the TLYRA chief said that an official announcement of ending sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, an arterial traffic intersection, would be made after 12 hours of time. “The government is still to accept our few demands,” Rizvi underlined.

Calling for safe release of missing activists detained during the crackdown on Saturday, he said the lists of missing party workers and injured were being compiled to be handed over to authorities concerned.

Calling off countrywide strike, he said Faizabad Interchange would be evicted after government ensures implementation on conditions of the agreement.

Earlier, the government caved in to the demands of protesting religious parties after a failed operation to evict them from Faizabad Interchange as Law Minister Zahid Hamid, who is at the center of the controversy, tendered his resignation.

The minister’s resignation was the key demand of the protesting Tahreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah camped out at the capital’s main artery for three weeks.

According to the agreement, a fact finding committee will be formed within 30 days to probe involvement of officials in making now-withdrawn amendments to the finality of Prophethood clause for electoral candidates in the Elections Act 2017.

Release of the TLYRA workers and supporters, who were detained during the operation, and withdrawal of cases filed against them are also part of the agreement.