Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday announced that the government will present a resolution on the expulsion of the French ambassador in the National Assembly later today. In a video statement, he said the decision was taken after another round of talks with the recently proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
اسلام آباد۔ 20 اپریل
حکومت اور تحریک لبیک پاکستان کے درمیان مذاکرات کامیاب۔
وزارت داخلہ کی جانب سے اہم ویڈیو پیغام جاری.https://t.co/imkNgbg2d0 pic.twitter.com/pHaxAaztSS
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) April 20, 2021
On Monday, the NA session was adjourned to meet again on April 22 (Thursday) at 2pm. However, shortly after the minister’s statement, it was announced that the schedule had been changed and the session would take place on April 20 (today) at 3pm.
قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس کا شیڈول تبدیل،
قومی اسمبلی کا مورخہ 22 اپریل 2021 بروز جمعرات کو دن 2 بجے ہونے والے اجلاس کا شیڈول تبدیل۔
قومی اسمبلی کا اجلاس جمعرات کو دن 2 بجے منعقد ہونے کے بجائے آج مورخہ 20 اپریل بروز منگل سہ پہر 3 بجے پارلیمنٹ ہاؤس میں منعقد ہوگا۔#NASession pic.twitter.com/TSvQRpWNuH
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) April 20, 2021
Rashid said that the TLP had agreed to call off protests across the country. “Talks with the party will continue,” he said.
The minister said that cases registered against TLP workers under the Fourth Schedule will also be withdrawn, adding that he will give a detailed briefing on the development via a press conference later today.
On the other hand, Ahsan Iqbal, a senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and former Interior Minister, told a private TV channel that his party will stand by the principle to defend the honor of the last Prophet P.B.H but, he said, “we will see what is good for the country created in the name of Allah and His prophet P.B. H”.
Why was TLP protesting?
The TLP was protesting blasphemous caricatures published in France and demanding that the French ambassador be sent home and import of goods from that country banned. The government reached an agreement with the TLP on Nov 16 to involve the parliament to decide the matter in three months.
As the Feb 16 deadline neared, the government expressed its inability to implement the agreement and sought more time. The TLP agreed to delay its protest by two-and-a-half months to April 20.
Read more: “Strict Action”: Polls show a majority of people against TLP Actions
On Sunday, Mr Rizvi, in a video message, asked the TLP workers to be ready to lunch the long march if the government failed to meet the deadline. It prompted the government to arrest the TLP chief.