ISLAMABAD: Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed Interior Minister on Wednesday announced that the Federal Government has decided to call the Punjab Rangers to maintain the law and order situation in the province amid the ongoing protests staged by the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
He was addressing a press conference in Federal Capital Islamabad, ahead of the TLP announcement to start long arch towards the capital city.
The Interior Minister said that the government wants to establish peace as there is a lot of pressure on Pakistan.
The minister said that since the ambassador of France is not present in Pakistan, the proscribed organisation seems to have “another agenda”.
“Yesterday, I had warned that foreign powers want to impose sanctions on Pakistan,” Rasheed said.
Earlier, briefing the media on the cabinet’s decision today, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said “TLP is not a religious organisation, it is a militant wing”.
The minister said the cabinet had decided to deal with TLP like a militant organisation, as he slammed the proscribed political party for blocking roads and central arteries for their protests.
“They have already put up a show six times. The proscribed TLP cannot blackmail the state; it has no status. In the past, we have defeated terrorist organisations,” he said.
The information minister, noting that six police officials were martyred during the protest, asked that till when would the state act as a silent spectator.
“We do not want bloodshed,” he said and slammed the TLP for blocking the roads “without reason”.
He asked the proscribed organisation to not underestimate the state’s writ, as the government had waited long enough.
Chaudhry said several people joined the protesters with AK-47s in their hands.
In the light of TLP’s protests, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that the government would not allow anyone to take the law into their hands as he issued directives to stop the long march planned by proscribed organisations.
Meanwhile, due to the protests, Pakistan Railways had announced alternate routes for several trains. Operations of Subak Khram, Islamabad Express, Rawal Express were suspended, while the Orange Line’s route from Rawalpindi to Lahore was also suspended.
However, the rest of the trains would operate in line with their schedule.
Similarly, due to the ongoing six-day long protest, traffic has been suspended on GT Road, causing frustration to the commuters, as they are facing troubles.
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