- Powerful clerics have called for a shutter-down strike across Pakistan today, Monday, in support of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan that was banned by the government for outbreaks of violence last week.
- Transporters are on strike in Karachi
- Negotiations continued through the night with the TLP
- Markets are closed in Karachi
The former head of the moon-sighting Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Fazlur Rehman both announced their support Sunday night.
Mufti Muneeb asked the government to release TLP workers and withdraw its ban on the group.
“I announce that after today’s incident, the French ambassador has stopped leaving Pakistan,” said Fazlur Rehman. “I am clearly announcing that if the bodies of TLP martyrs are sent to Islamabad, we will be with them.”
He went on to say, “Terrorists are not the ones who talk about the honor of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Terrorists are Imran Khan and his cabinet ministers.”
Police and rangers were put on high alert in Karachi. Public transporters and markets said they would not operate in the city. Additional IGP Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon told Samaa Digital that the police have been told to allow protesters to observe a peaceful strike. He said that the police would respond accordingly if anyone tried to create a law and order situation in any part of Karachi.
Sunday night, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed announced in a video message that the government had started talks with the TLP. The second round of talks will begin after dawn. The TLP had released its 11 hostages. The TLP men have gone to Rehmat-ul-Ulameen mosque and the police have also retreated, Rasheed said.
Protesting broke out on Karachi at about 11pm on Sunday, according to SAMAA Digital reporter Aamir Majeed. Heavy contingent of police, Rangers took positions all over the city. Initially, the protests started in Liaquatabad and Maripur Road. By night time a big crowd had gathered outside Darul Uloom-e-Amjadia in Nursery. Similar reports emerged from Orangi.
The protesters who gathered at Maripur Road blocked the road leading to the port, said traffic police.
All the markets in Karachi will remain closed on Monday on the appeal of the ulema said the All City Traders Union Association and All Karachi Footwear Merchant Association. The same message was issued by Muhammad Hussain, the general secretary for the Transporters and Goods Association.
“This is a difficult announcement in the current business and commercial situation, but we cannot prioritize anything over honor,” said Hammad Poonawala, the president of the All City Traders Union and all its associations.
Pakistan bans TLP
On Thursday, the government formally proscribed the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.
The government has reasonable grounds to believe that the TLP “engaged in terrorism, acted in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country”, a notification issued by the Interior Ministry stated.
The religious group “intimidated the public, caused grievous bodily harm, hurt and death to the personnel of law enforcement agencies and innocent bystanders”, it added.
Read: Pakistan has banned TLP. What will happen next?
The party has been proscribed under section 11B (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. It empowers the government to ban an organization involved in terrorism.
The ban will be placed under Section 11-B of the Ant-Terrorism Act, 1997, which gives the government powers to ban an organization involved or participating in terrorism.
Supporters of the religious party took to the streets earlier this week after their chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was arrested.
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