News Analysis |
On Friday, the Punjab government reached an agreement with the faction of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLP) which concluded the 7-day sit-in on the city’s busiest Mall road Lahore. The leader of the faction- Maulana Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali ended his protest after the government agreed on releasing Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee’s report on the controversial Elections Act 2017 on December 20.
Dr. Ashraf Asi Jalali held a press conference following the agreement where he declared that he accepted the government proposal to withdraw their primary demand of the resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah from a ministerial position and the court of Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi will make a final decision on the matter.
Apparently, different groups have emerged within the TLP after the possibly individual decision of TLP chief Rizvi to end protests amid the debatable intervention of the Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.
At the press conference, Dr Jalali said that government agreed to formulate a committee which will look into the demand related to the resignation of incumbent Punjab law minister. Moreover, the government has provided the names of the protestors in Islamabad sit-in who were martyred, wounded or arrested.
While addressing his supporters and government last night, he threatened and made it clear that if government fails to comply with the agreement reached and doesn’t publicize the names of those responsible for making amendments in the Elections Act 2017 law, his supporters will take to the street.
Read more: What triggered the rift between the factions of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool…
In another significant development, hoping to create the unity among the Barelvi school of thought, Dr Jalali also announced to render his resignation to the Sunni Ulema Board constituted to look into the ongoing rift between the two factions led by him and the Khadim Hussain Rizvi -the head of the other faction of TLYP. Both the leaders are expected to appear before the board to explain their position.
The ongoing spat between the party leaders sparked the heated debate amid accusation of lousy conduct hurled at each other openly on electronic media.
Dr Ashraf Jalali also staged an eight-day demonstration near D-Chowk in Islamabad which ended on November 3. Following the Dr Jalali’s sit-in, Khadim Hussain Rizvi led faction of the party paralyzed the twin city for 22-days. Failed negotiations resulted in violent clashes after the Islamabad Police’s bid to dismantle the protestors failed and sparked the violent protests across the country. Different local leaders of TLP and other religious parties taking part in the sit-in mobilized their workers across Pakistan to protest the assault against the religious outfits in a confrontation with the law enforcement agencies.
Following the operation, Dr Jalali along with his party workers disrupted the traffic at Mall road Lahore on 25 November and pegged their tents at one of the busiest intersections Charing Cross of Lahore’s Mall Road area of the city. The protestor’s demanded the resignation of the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for allegedly speaking in favor of the Ahmadi community.
Different local leaders of TLP and other religious parties taking part in the sit-in mobilized their workers across Pakistan to protest the assault against the religious outfits in a confrontation with the law enforcement agencies.
Dr Jalali enquired that Rizvi had demanded the resignation of the entire cabinet on the ground of killings of party workers, then how can he only accept the resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid. The ongoing spat between the party leaders sparked the heated debate amid accusation of lousy conduct hurled at each other openly on electronic media.
Read more: The rise of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik-ya-Rasool Allah: dawn of a new era?
Despite showing reservation in the hastily signed agreement, Dr Ashraf was apparently ignored. He enquired that why there was no blood money demanded for the families of the deceased? Moreover, why he [Rizvi] allegedly compromised on the bodies of those killed in the violent protests?
Another faction of the group has emerged in KP. This chapter of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah warns of a protest March towards Islamabad on January 4, if the government fails to unveil the Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee’s report on the controversial law within a month. It also stated that it would observe the Mumtaz Qadri’s death anniversary on January 4, despite the fact that Qadri was hanged in February 2017.
Maulana Dr Ashraf Asi Jalali ended his protest after the government agreed on releasing Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee’s report on the controversial Elections Act 2017 on December 20.
However, on January 4 Mumtaz Qadri had assassinated the Punjab governor Salman Taseer.
Apparently, different groups have emerged within the TLP after the possibly individual decision of TLP chief Rizvi to end protests amid the debatable intervention of the Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Read more: Islamabad under siege as Khatam-e-Nubuwat protest continue
Though the Sunni Ulema Board will review the situation to resolve the differences to avoid grouping within the party, going forward, the apparent rifts can be a severe threat to its political ambitions as it apparently hopes to take part actively in politics in future.