Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thursday warned the banned outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to face dire consequences if violence continues. He urged the party to stick to their commitments that it had made with the government earlier. Incase the group continue to resort to violence, “things will be out of my hands” he stated.
The minister, while appearing on a TV show stated that no matter what happens, the government will stop the group from entering the capital.
He went on to warn the protesters to stop, and turn back or else the state would “establish its writ”.
He went on to add that Prime Minister Imran Khan would not allow the state to become “hostage”, and that the government does not want to see any more violence.
“Your loss is our loss”, he stated while addressing the TLP protestors.
He asked the TLP protestors that “Why don’t you believe us when we say that the French envoy has left the country?”, adding that the group talks about the finality of Prophethood, it is something which all Muslims already believe in, without any doubts.
He further stated that damaging one’s own country does not count as serving the religion in any manner.
“PM Imran is the first person to form the Rehmatullil Alameen Authority and take the country towards making it a welfare state like Madina,” he added.
The minister went on to reveal that he had spoken to Saad Hussain Rizvi multiple times in recent days and would talk to them again on Friday and Saturday. “However, the talks would only be held after they (the TLP) returns,” he clarified.
He added that matters with the TLP remain unresolved till now, which is the reason why Ramgers had to be called in Punjab so that law and order across the province could be maintained.
Rasheed further stated that earlier TLP committed to unblock roads and the group should fulfil its promise, “otherwise, matters will go out of my hand,” he warned.
“If you (the TLP) keep moving forward [towards Islamabad], you have to be stopped at some point”, he added while stating that “[Prime Minister] Imran Khan has shown as much flexibility [in the matter] as he could.”
The minister went on to state that the government has accepted many of the TLP’s demands, however the proscribed group has failed to keep their promises of returning back.
The minister reiterated that the prime minister had shown as much flexibility on the matter as it was possible for him, the minister said the government couldn’t be compelled to do something.
“The French ambassador is not here (in Pakistan), a resolution [on the finality of prophethood] has been moved in the National Assembly,” he said, referring to two of the TLP’s demands. “Then what are you marching on Islamabad for?” he questioned.
“Our agreement with you (the TLP) still stands, but if you keep moving [towards Islamabad], the government would have to establish its writ,” he said. “The government is being mocked in the world [for not establishing its writ].”
And, he said, “matters should not reach a point of no-return”.
“We are ready to go through with our agreement with the TLP,” the minister said, warning the TLP of consequences it didn’t follow through with its commitments. “I don’t want matters to worsen, and if that happens, those out on the road would face loss.”
He went on to state that he has signed the agreement with the TLP after PM Imran Khan’s approval. Adding that the government stood by the commitments made in the agreement, he said, adding that he failed to understand what the problem was.
“It seems to me that the [actual] issue is being presented in the garb of something else.”
While talking about the four policemen martyred in clashes with the TLP, he said there had been a reaction on it in the police.
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