TLP action in Punjab

The newly-formed Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) Pakistan that held the disastrous Islamabad sit-in, staged yet another show of force on Thursday, blocking all entry and exit points in various cities of Punjab to bring the government under pressure for the implementation of the Faizabad Agreement and it appears that the Punjab government has again capitulated to their demands to withdraw all cases registered against the TLP leadership. It was a clever tactic on the part of the TLP leaders to achieve maximum impact with minimum numbers as they knew the government would be forced to take notice of the miles-long traffic lines on the roads but hesitate to use force given the sensitive nature of the issue being used. The protest was broken only after the provincial authorities announced acceptance of their demands. As per the announcement, all FIRs - for violence or damage to public and private property -against TLP workers would be withdrawn, and the Raja Zafarul Haq Committee's report made public - it has already been handed to TLP. Furthermore, all other steps mentioned in the agreement would be taken.
That though is of little help. As the Punjab government spokesman pointed out, the Islamabad High Court had rejected the Faizabad Agreement - brokered by the Army - on legal grounds, declaring TLP leaders proclaimed offenders. The court had also observed that since the government had removed the controversial clause in the legislator's oath restoring the original wording there was no excuse for anyone to make an issue out of it. The Punjab government understands so should the TLP leaders that the IHC verdict takes precedence over an agreement that one of the parties, the federal interior ministry, was forced to accept against its will. The Supreme Court is also hearing the TLP sit-in case to determine why the civil and military agencies failed to take timely notice of the activities that led to the protest demonstration as well as the ensuing developments. The case can be expected to put on notice all concerned, whose intentional or unintentional failures forced the State to make an unsavoury compromise.
The way TLP has been trying to impose its agenda on society holds a lesson for the government and opposition political parties expressing sympathies for them, as well as other stakeholders in the peace and security of this country. It is that there are no good extremists and bad extremists. If today these people are causing trouble for the ruling party, they can do the same to whosoever forms the next government, or serves in other institutions. No one should think they are safe from those exploiting religious sensitivities for whatever purposes. Various violent extremist groups have already been playing havoc with lives, and undermining political stability. It is imperative therefore that all stakeholders make an effort to overcome political or other differences to deal with troublemakers of all hues with an iron hand. No group of extremists challenging the writ of the State should be shown leniency. All must be made to understand they can protest while staying within legal limits or face consequences.