Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday geared up for a possible showdown with religious hardliners camped out on the federal capital’s busy Faizabad Interchange after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the district administration to take all necessary steps to clear the area latest by Saturday morning.

There were fears that a crackdown would have serious repercussions, with the government hinting that some of the protesters were armed and would not shy from resorting to violence.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal once again requested the protesters to call off their protest peacefully as parliament had already restored clauses related to Khatm-e-Nabuwwat to their original form.

“We know that there are armed men and we know that there are people with them [the protesters] who are waiting to provoke chaos,” the minister said in a press conference on the matter late Friday evening. “It is incumbent on the leaders of this protest to make sure nothing untoward happens.”

He said that whoever “challenges the writ of the government will be dealt with”. “We have the capability, but we would rather avoid violence.”

A couple of hours before the 10pm deadline for the protesters expired, Ahsan Iqbal made a ‘last-ditch effort’ talk the protesters out of that madness.

Presenting himself as the son of ‘exceptionally devout’ Muslims, he pleaded that the sit-in, which had disrupted life in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, be called off as it went against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Saying that “international lobbies” would “use pictures of the protests to further their agenda”, he asked the protesters if they wanted their actions to hurt the state of Pakistan.

“The CPEC Joint Coordination Committee’s session is scheduled for November 20-21. What image of the capital city do we wish to portray? Do we want that the investor who is coming in should run away?” he asked.

“I assure that there is no shortcoming in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat laws and a gap that had been created after 2002 has also been filled forever,” he said. “Therefore, there is no reason this sit-in should continue and be allowed to disrupt people’s lives.”

“I appreciate your sentiments: you are here to safeguard your love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). However, this country, its parliament, government and armed forces are here to safeguard the finality of prophethood,” he assured.

“Our faith is just as strong as yours. In light of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) teachings, I ask you to end this sit-in immediately.”

He asked them not to test the patience of the people of the twin cities. “Obey the court’s orders. We are still open to negotiations with you. We are all Muslims, and our faith in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam is just as strong as yours. Do not question it,” he said, as he appealed to the protesters. “Leave the judging to God,” he repeated at various points during his conference. “Else we will be forced to take the step the court has ordered us to take,” he said.

“I hope that we will be able to end this situation with talks and those who claim to love the Prophet (PBUH) will not instigate their followers towards violence,” he said, adding, “It is only the enemies of Pakistan who want to create disruptions in the country.”

The protesters have been calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017, which had earlier been deemed a ‘clerical error’ and restored to its original form on November 16.

Published in Daily Times, November 18^th 2017.