A prominent cleric Pir Hussainuddin Shah on Tuesday conditionally accepted government's offer to head a committee comprising renowned religious clerics for holding negotiations with sit-in protesters of Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) to end Islamabad siege. Sources said that senior officials of Ministry of Religious Affairs met Pir Hussainuddin Shah and offered him to head the negotiating committee which he accepted conditionally.
"Shah accepted the offer of the government officials to head the committee conditionally," they said, adding that he (Shah) demanded complete authority to head the negotiation committee. A spokesman for Pir Hussainuddin Shah said that heading a powerless committee would bear no result and the committee should be fully authorized and empowered.
The constitution of the committee was proposed in a meeting presided over by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal at Ministry of Religious Affairs on November 20, which was also attended by religious scholars belonging to different schools of thought, to suggest immediate solution to the issue. Meanwhile, Pir Nizamuddin of Golra Sharif met with leadership of the sit-in headed by Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi. He said that he is playing the role of mediator between the government and participants of the sit-in.
Later in the evening, Nizamuddin while addressing a press conference flanked by Pir Afzal Qadir and negotiating team of the sit-in protesters, said that no law is possible in Pakistan which is against the honor and dignity of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He said that he fully endorses the demands of TLYR sit-in protesters as it is a matter of Khatam-e-Nabuwat and there will be no compromise on this.
He said that he held consultations with TYLR leadership about threats to national security and stability. He further said that this is not a political sit-in and, therefore, it is not easy for the government to use force against them. He urged the participants of the sit-in to remain peaceful. "Khatam-e-Nabuwat is part of our faith and no Muslim will compromise on it," he said.
He said that dialogue with the government is still underway, adding he has warned the government not to even think of using force against the sit-in protesters. "Out of 12 demands of TLYR protesters, one is removal of Law Minister Zahid Hamid," he said, adding that the government should find a middle way to resolve the issue.
He further said the government has also assured to make Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee report public, besides taking action in light of the committee's recommendations against those who were involved in this blunder. Meanwhile, the protesters continued their sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, creating serious hardships for residents of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as heavy traffic jams were witnessed on Tuesday on various roads.
Due to the blockade of roads, students, patients, and public and private sectors employees faced problems in reaching their destinations. Heavy contingents of police, FC and Rangers remained deployed for the 17th consecutive day around the sit-in. The law enforcers are ready to take action against the protesters in case of any such order from higher authorities.
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