Law Minister Zahid Hamid expected to resign: sources

ISLAMABAD: Two federal ministers including Law Minister Zahid Hamid have decided to resign and are expected to set down, in wake of the botched up operation against protestors in Islamabad,  ARY News reported. 

Law Minister Zahid Hamid on Sunday met with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif where the decision was made. Minster for State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman is also expected to announce her resignation.

Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yusuf was also reportedly present in the meeting with CM Punjab. However, spokesman for the religious affairs ministry denied saying that minister was present in Mansehra.

Both ministers were members of the parliamentary committee which made an amendment in the Khatm-e-Nabuwat clause of the oath taken by parliamentarians reaffirming their faith in the finality of Prophethood.

Hamid reportedly said he was ready to resign to bring the ongoing crisis to an end. He is expected to submit his resignation with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi within twenty-four hours.

Protesters were calling for the resignation of Hamid, who they blamed for the amendment and had staged a sit-in at the Faizababad interchange in Islamabad since the past two weeks bring the federal capital to a standstill.

The government launched a operation on Saturday to disperse the protesters which proved counter productive and increased the government’s woes as it appeared desperate to quell the protests.

Several activists of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik attacked the residence of law minister in his ancestral hometown in Pasrur, district Sialkot. The protester said they would continue the sit-in until Hamid is removed from his post.

Rana Sanaullah expected to resign 

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah is also expected to resign as the government finds way to quell the protests in Islamabad and across the province. The ministers residence in Faisalabad was also surrounded by protesters before being dispersed by police.

Several Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) parliamentarians are also expected to resign over the handling of the operation. This includes Ghulam Muhammad Lali, Abdur Razzaq, Shaikh Akram, Muhammad Khan Baloch, Rana Ghulam Ghous, Waris Kalu, and Rehmatullah.

Several PML-N lawmakers have pressurised CM Punjab for the resignation of Rana Sanaullah. It may be mentioned that PML-N stalwart was removed over the Model Town incident but was restored after a few month