News Desk |
The security situation in the country has been deteriorating as ‘supporters’ of Tehreek-e-Labaik TLP and other religious parties have started to harm the states and public property.
TLP had threatened to jam the country if SC sets Asia Bibi–a Christian woman accused of blasphemy free. Soon after the verdict, the leadership of TLP, along with its followers took it to the streets to protest against SC announcement of setting Asia Bibi free, GVS earlier reported.
Some strongly supported the dialogue while others believed that the only way to fix the exploitation of religious sentiments by extremist religiopolitical parties is a strong crackdown.
Governments of Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, and administration of Federal city have imposed section 144–carrying arms, gathering of more than four persons, pillion riding, and taking out rallies are some of the acts prohibited– in order to curb anarchy at the hands of extremists. Schools and educational institutes in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore remained closed today.
Club-wielding followers of TLP have blocked railway lines, important points of metropolitans, all major highways, and entrance and exit points of motorway and are reported to have been destroying government and public property using sticks and setting them ablaze.
Read more: Asia Bibi’s Verdict: How the TLP & the rest are reacting
In a recent development, Government has formed a committee to hold talks with the protestors. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister of State for Interior Sheheryar Afridi, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Minister Noorul Qadri and Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mohammad Mehboob Sultan will be part of the committee, the sources said.
The minister for religious affairs will meet with the protesters while the premier will overlook the dialogue process himself, the sources further said.
The reaction of the nation to the protest and dealing with the protestors have been mixed. Some strongly supported the dialogue while others believed that the only way to fix the exploitation of religious sentiments by extremist religiopolitical parties is a strong crackdown.
Read more: Who is Khadim Hussain Rizvi?
Global village Space ran a poll to analyze the behavior of social media users regarding the dealing with religious zealots. The polls on a Facebook page and Twitter about the dialogue vs usage of force show majority of social media users were inclined to the use of force. On Facebook, 60% of the respondents favored brute force to be used against the TLp while on Twitter 58% wanted to force to be used against the TLP.
On one side, it shows how annoyed majority of the nation is with the unjust and inappropriate mode of the demonstration by protestors but at the same time, use of force in a worsening situation due to a sensitivity of the issue can certainly end badly.