Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Though the government misgauged the sensitivity of an ongoing sit-in at Faizabad Interchange from day first, a miscalculation regarding silent support for protesters by Interior Minister ‘Professor’ Ahsan Iqbal while launching an operation clean-up has converted the said peaceful protest into a violent movement across the country.

Religious groups, led by Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLYP) and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan, have been holding a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange for the past 20 days, and have been demanding the removal of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid from his position, calling for an inquiry against him over a recent legislation that was later reversed by the government about Khatm-e-Nabuwwat.

In a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) on Friday, the interior minister claimed that the general public could remove the protesters on their own, as they were annoyed due to closure of roads, but the government “has restricted them to do so”.

This scribe confronted Iqbal on his claim and drew his attention towards a similar protest held outside the minister’s residence in Narowal, while also pointed out that the protesters had an enormous silent support throughout the country, which could be sparked in case of an operation against them.

The minister admitted the fact at that time and he himself mentioned that the holy month of Rabiul Awwal was also being considered by the government, and operation would be the last option.

However, on Saturday, without isolating the ‘protesters’ from a majority Barelvi sect, the interior minister ordered to conduct an operation to get the Faizabad Interchange vacated, which not only failed but also triggered street agitation across the country. Only in the twin cities, people gathered at more than a dozen locations and showed solidarity with protesters present at Faizabad Interchange, while clashes between law enforcement agencies and protesters were also reported.

If somebody asks a question what the government has achieved through this operation, the answer is quite simple: that the action has helped protesters gain more support and sympathies among their likeminded people, while it created further problems for the government to maintain its writ.

Even the parliamentarians of the ruling party were scared of supporting the operation and their movement in public had become too difficult. They are facing life threats. PML-N lawmaker Mian Javed Latif was beaten up by a charged mob in Sheikhupura district, while the house of Law Minister Zahid Hamid was also attacked by some unidentified protesters.

On the other side, lawmaker Shaikh Akram from Jhang attended a local protest and showed his support to the protesters for the fulfillment of their demands, which included the resignation of the law minister. There are rumours that a student of a local seminary in Rawalpindi was gunned down by the police. In response, the leaders of TLYP announced to offer his funeral prayer in front of the Parliament House.

Published in Daily Times, November 26^th 2017.