ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday detailed that some respectable personalities came forth to play role for negotiations when the government has decided to commence crackdown against the pro-Qadri protestors at 5:00pm evening on Wednesday (today).
Chaudhry Nisar was addressing a press conference post calling off the pro-Qadri demonstrations by the protesting leadership after a successful dialogues with support of few politico-religious personalities.
The Interior Minister clarified that no written agreement was made between the government and the protestors so far. However, the government has decided to ban public gatherings and protests inside Red Zone especially D-Chowk after changing its status renowned for political shows.
Nisar said the ban on public gatherings within premises of Red Zone will be approved by proper legislation in the Parliament.
He said two respectable personalities of Karachi were currently residing in Islamabad. He credited the personalities for reaching a deal between the government and the protestors during last minutes which resulted a peaceful dispersion of the demonstrators from the Red Zone.
Nisar said that he has ordered a thorough probe into failure of security forces to stop protestors to enter into premises of Red Zone.
While detailing regarding number of arrested protestors, Nisar said 1070 demonstrators were arrested collectively in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He said the persons who were not involved in any illegal activity will be released after investigation except the culprits who were found guilty in creating chaos.
Earlier, dialogues between the pro-Qadri protestors and the government remained successful on Wednesday. Islamabad district management affirmed the reports and said that the last phase of the dialogs held at Railway’s Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.
A set of 10 demands issued by protesters under the banner of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool (SAW), include the unconditional release of all Sunni clerics and leaders booked on various charges, including terrorism and murder; the recognition of Mumtaz Qadri as a martyr and the conversion of his Adiala Jail cell into a national heritage site; assurances that the blasphemy laws will not be amended; and the removal of Ahmadis and other non-Muslims who had occupied key posts. They also demanded the execution of blasphemy accused Aasia Bibi.
A few moment before the successful dialogues, the security forces geared up for crack down to clear the D-Chock.
Protest leaders Sarwat Ijaz Qadri and Asif Jalali were taken for another round of talks to Punjab House, where Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, additional deputy commissioner Abdul Sattar Esani, Awais Noorani and other scholars were present.
The dialogues come up with a decision to end the sit-in as the government accepted seven out of 10 demands of the protestors.
