Punjab government has claimed late Thursday night that talks with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasoolullah (TLYRA) succeeded after the former assured registration of FIR of the killing of TLYRA protesters at Islamabad sit-in and making Raja Zafarul Haq's report public. Aaj News reported that the representatives of the Punjab government and TLYRA held talks at CM Secretariat in Lahore. The representatives of TLYRA left the secretariat after successful talks. They are likely to announce end to ongoing protest being held in many parts of the country.
The group that shut down Islamabad-Rawalpindi a year ago renewed its protest, this time in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and some other areas where they also staged sit-in on blocking major roads. Supporters of TLYRA claimed to have gathered at more than 80 places in Lahore alone. They called it continuation of their sit-in last year over changes in oath regarding belief in Khatam-e-Nabuwat.
The TLYR men blocked the Metro bus routes from both sides and the service was stopped. They had been protesting at Lahore's Data Darbar from Monday. Earlier, talks failed with the Punjab government. The government was represented by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah who later claimed that talks proved fruitful. The group had been threatening to hold nationwide protests from Friday if its demands were not met. Two thousands policemen were deployed at entry points in Islamabad, and 500 Rangers personnel were called in to block their entry as Islamabad's SSP Security vowed nobody would be allowed to enter Islamabad. However, there was no police presence near the Lahore protests.
"We have already implemented our agreement with the religious group. The new protest is unjustified," Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said, adding that they were tarnishing image of Pakistan, internationally. He said the government had even sacrificed its law minister to avoid chaos. However, Punjab government's spokesman said protesters didn't demand Rana Sanaullah's resignation," he said.