ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday said that the government was making efforts to end the Faizabad protest through talks. Addressing a press conference along with Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasanat at the PID, Iqbal said that the protest was causing great inconvenience and hardship to the people of the twin cities. He said that the Islamabad High Court had also issued orders to remove the sit-in to facilitate the general public. “Despite the court’s clear order, the government has requested more time to resolve the issue through negotiations,” he said. “The matter [controversial amendment] has already been settled once for all. It should not be politicised, keeping in view of its sensitivity as the error in the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017 has been undone,” he said. He said creating doubts about the finality of Prophet-hood law, propaganda on social media or religious hatred were not in Pakistan’s interest and it should be avoided keeping in-view the prevailing situation. He said that a 30-member delegation of ‘Ulema and Mashaikh’ was also taken on board to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner. “Islam allows none to cause inconvenience to the general public and blocking the ways has no moral, religious and constitutional justification. We request them to end the protest as they have registered their protest. The parliament has already made finality of Prophet-hood law foolproof and there is no ambiguity and shortcoming in it,” he said. The minister said that the government was also trying to maintain the law and order besides avoiding any conflict and any encounter for ensuring the safety as well as security of the life and property of people in the country. “Due to the sit-in, about 800,000 people have been badly affected and they are facing several problems,” he said. He said business activities had also been affected in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. “Moreover, it portrays a bad impression of Pakistan in the world,” he said. “The sit-in will only benefit the enemies of Pakistan as a high level delegation from China is due in Islamabad on Monday for the 7th Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee meeting,” he said. Published in Daily Times, November 20th 2017.