ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday has termed the government’s recent agreement with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to end countrywide protests as “firefighting, not a cure”.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Fawad Chaudhry said that using force against protesters was not the preferred method for the government to deal with the demonstrations.
The information minister defended his government against allegations it was bowing down to extremists. He said his government was committed to coming up with a permanent solution to tackle violent protests in the country.
He underscored that government had two options either to use force or to negotiate, and when you use force people can be killed. That is not something a state should do. We tried negotiations and in negotiations you take something and you leave something,” he said.
“We need to take steps against extremism, we need to take steps against such kind of violent protesters and we need to come up with a permanent solution. Right now this is not a cure. This is firefighting, what we are doing. The cure is the real thing and our government is committed to the cure,” Fawad added.
He said that the courts would decide whether or not to put Asia Bibi on the Exit Control List (ECL). He said the PTI government would take all steps necessary to ensure her safety in Pakistan.
Earlier, the TLP and several religious parties staged the protest in several cities after the Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian woman on death row since 2010 when she was convicted on blasphemy charges.
The protests paralysed routine life in major cities, causing severe road blockages in major cities and resulting in severe mobility issues for citizens.