The arrested workers of the party will be released as per the talks
Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that the government will not remove the ban on TLP after the latter called off protests across the country. The negotiations between the two sides were successful after which the government is letting the arrested workers of TLP go and not book them under the fourth schedule.
The protests
TLP started protesting across the country when their leader was arrested by Lahore police. He was booked under Section 302 ATA. The protests soon became violent, leading to loss of life and damage to the property. The protests have been ongoing for days, with life in the major cities partially disrupted.
This is not the first time that TLP has disrupted the life of common people. They have previously staged sit-ins at important city roads, mostly ending in law enforcement agencies taking action against the leadership and workers.
Demand for French envoy’s removal
French President Emmanuel Macron issued some highly irresponsible statements about Islam, hurting the feelings of Muslims globally. TLP was among the parties that wanted the French Ambassador to be sent back. Previously, the government agreed to discuss the matter in the National Assembly and the protests were called off. Currently, a motion is under discussion in the National Assembly on the same subject.
The banned status for TLP will have long-lasting effects for the organization with many restrictions in place. The FIR against Saad Rizvi can also be an issue since legal proceedings can take years and can lead to restrictions on his actions. Hopefully, the matter will be soon resolved without any further violent protests and disruptions in the country. Such events bring a bad name for the country and give lots of fodder for overseas media.