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Expressing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the federal capital, PTI chairman Imran Khan and Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq insisted that instead of launching an armed operation the government should have tried to reach a solution through dialogue.
On Saturday police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel conducted an operation against the protesters camped out on Faizabad Interchange for the past three weeks.
The cricketer-turned-politician said the matter of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) finality was a sensitive issue for every Muslim. However, he urged the participants of the protest to remain peaceful.
Explore the chain of events that led up to Faizabad riots
He also criticised the government for failing to release the contents of the investigation report that was prepared by a probe team headed by Raja Zafarul Haq to identify those responsible for the introduction of a controversial amendment to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat declaration for electoral candidates.
"Why wasn't Raja Zafar-ul-Haq Committee's report made public despite admitting the mistake," he said.
Moreover, PTI leader Jahangir Tareen held Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal responsible for the law and order situation and said that the minister should accept failure and tender his resignation.
Dialogue instead of force
Sirajul Haq expressed his disapproval over the use of force against the protesters. "The government's decision to use force against the sit-in has complicated the situation," he said.
Meanwhile, MQM leader Farooq Sattar claimed that the operation against Faizabad protesters was "inevitable". The government should have taken all parties into confidence before initiating it, he added.
Pakistan People's Party has not issued an official statement yet; however, party leader Nafisa Shah in a tweet criticised the authorities for blocking news channels and social media networks across the country and urged the government to "focus" on "establishing its writ".
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afrasiab Khattak apparently criticised the army chief's suggestion to the prime minister telling him to avoid "violence from both sides".
Without naming the army chief, Khattak claimed that treating "fanatic rioters" that were deemed terrorists by the Islamabad High Court as a "legitimate party" would lead to "fragmentation of state" and give more power to "terrorists".
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Comments (63) Closed
Nov 26, 2017 12:41am
I think these people got what they deserved....you can not cause hardship for citizens and get away with it. Govt should have acted sooneras and released the report for clarification.
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Nov 26, 2017 12:42am
Both parties are political blackmailers who believe in chit bhi meri, patt bhi mera.
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Nov 26, 2017 12:45am
A solution through dialogue is far more desirable.
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Nov 26, 2017 12:47am
They are being used by third force. Directors must know that their influence in politics is going to come to an end.
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Nov 26, 2017 12:48am
Can they explain exactly what should have been offered and compromised upon within reason and logic with the protesters?
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Nov 26, 2017 12:49am
Government is responsible for mishandling the situation.
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Nov 26, 2017 12:56am
Hypocracy at its peak. IK and JI chief found another chance to gain political milage. Shame
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Nov 26, 2017 01:01am
Thanks to PTI dharnas setting examples for these people to use the same Street power to their advantage. Shameful indeed. Wait till PTI comes into government, it will be interesting to see how they will deal with street protests , seeds of which are sown by them ....
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Nov 26, 2017 01:02am
Imran Khan and his PTI is fully responsible for law & order situation in Pakistan. Imran started this years ago. No one should be allowed to ransack the country and public life. This is definitely terrorism.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:09am
IK could have handle it better.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:12am
IK knows Mian ji don't know about politics, his politics is for his own interest. Its all about the money. Very sad to see what going on in Mian's regime.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:14am
Sensing political milage, here comes the flock of political vultures...
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Nov 26, 2017 01:21am
You are also part of the government. Why dont you take an initiative and try to resolve the situation?
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Nov 26, 2017 01:33am
Imran Khan talking about Law and Order? REALLY?? The man who paralysed the nation for months and for what? And, then he whimpered away without attaining any thing except causing a lot of damage to the nation.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:33am
Most of the Islamabad protesters seems from Imran Khan's KPK.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:33am
Now this megalomaniac imran khan speaks and criticizes govt. again
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Nov 26, 2017 01:35am
There were times when one would reasonably expect honesty ,reason, and justice from these parties. I had subscribed to their thought at various times. But now, they have lost all vision & character, sold their souls very cheaply to ---- . The nation loses.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:35am
Political blackmailers have now big oppurtunity to score points....
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Nov 26, 2017 01:36am
The orthos do not understand dialogue. Its their way or the highway. Commendable action by Govt. Happened too late. How can 5000 people hold a nation of 200 million hostage.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:37am
Afrasiab Khattak makes the best statement. Bold, legal and principled.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:38am
How will IK provide protection to those named in the report-foolish comments by both SUH and IK.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:39am
JI AND PTI are full of fools.
Don't now why I voted for PTI. Never again.
The extremists in Islamabad should be jailed. And Pakistan needs to move towards a tolerant future!!
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Nov 26, 2017 01:50am
Shame on IK for siding with regressive people who are bullying people. Shame on people still supporting IK.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:50am
IK is right to call the committee to publicly report the matter so that the real culprit should be published. Yet another model town case failure to handle by arrogant PML-N leaders.
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Nov 26, 2017 01:58am
The sympathizers of extremists have spoken.
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Nov 26, 2017 02:00am
Have these clowns (Imran and Siraj) not learnt that you cannot negotiate with people that are irrational?
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Nov 26, 2017 02:08am
The apologetic statements by JI and PTI are pathetic and only issued to gain political support from religious fanatics. While I have supported IK and have had friends in JI, this is sad and deplorable
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Nov 26, 2017 02:10am
This Taliabn Niazi is the reason for all Pakistan trouble. He showed ppl how to create chaos.
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Nov 26, 2017 02:13am
Govt. tried but not succeed. Imran and Saraj politicking onese crisis.
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Nov 26, 2017 02:24am
Well,it look like it was the government's own plan to create all this situation. Drag the military and judiciary into all this. Zahid Hamid should resign immediately to calm down the protesters. It is a very bad situation right now for pakistan
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Nov 26, 2017 02:25am
The government waited so long for a peaceful resolution, the minister is facing contempt charges for not acting sooner against the protesters, and now these political opportunists want to blame the government for not pursuing dialogue. The government must arrest all the leaders of this baseless protest and prosecute them under appropriate law. The government should have done the same thing for Imran Khan's dharna.
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Nov 26, 2017 02:32am
Hate to admit it.... ANP released the most appropriate statement.
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Nov 26, 2017 02:32am
Haha, like IK wanted to negotiate (surrender!) to TTP before APS tradegy!
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Nov 26, 2017 02:33am
IK up from deep sleep. We didn't hear from pti throughout dharna. They couldn't criticize dharna since they are dharna party themselves. Thank you IK for this dharna culture
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Nov 26, 2017 03:08am
What do these two-faced politicians think the govt. was trying to do for this past month. I hope the public sees through their double talk.
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Nov 26, 2017 03:10am
Shame on PTI and shame JI
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Nov 26, 2017 03:11am
I always admired Imran Khan’s novice politics, it presented him as pure and transparent. However in this case his statement about government negotiating by having a dialogue instead of using force is full of hypocrisy and dirty politics, the government did try however the dharna people were not interested in negotiations, they were stead fast in ending the protests on their own terms leaving government no choice. In this situation all parties should be one voice, protesting is their right but disabling the life and the livelihood of ordinary citizens is not acceptable. From time and again IK is diminishing his reputation.’
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Nov 26, 2017 03:23am
Shameful and hypocritical. JI and IK sink to new lows.
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Nov 26, 2017 03:42am
you can suggest all you want, but no suggestion will work so long as your terrorists are still committing crimes. period.
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Nov 26, 2017 03:45am
Good job done by IHC and int ministry..IK opposes everything govt does...he need to change his advisers..I suggest on such issue there should be no fight within polity
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Nov 26, 2017 03:46am
Solution through dialogue is the best option. Violence begets more violence in the present circumstances. the root cause of the problem must be investigated and fixed.
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Nov 26, 2017 03:48am
All these rioters should be given long sentence for disturbing peace. They should be chained and forced to clean their mess. No mercy.
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Nov 26, 2017 03:52am
This is IK constituency, People who voted for him are in miserable condition since 3 weeks. Parents could not pick up their daughters from colleges. Commuting is almost impossible.
Many public services are not available. Their elected Leader was quite and waiting to see opportunity to make bash government and make political score. Shame
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Nov 26, 2017 03:57am
@FMnawaz
IK is an elected official from ISB. He kept his lips tight until he got chance to bash PMN. He did nothing to help his constituents.
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Nov 26, 2017 04:27am
@SA khan - we have the voters of your IQ and intellect and no wonder we elect politicians who cannot run our country. Current government has failed foreign policy, lack of understanding of our priorities and unsustainable growth initiatives.
But one thing our politicians are good to cheat, deceive and steal our national wealth.
Don’t you see that Islamabad protest has our politicians hands? Sincerely
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Nov 26, 2017 05:11am
I am not supporter of PML-N. However, the government has been very patient with these fanatics. The fact that these religious fanatics had found quite a bit of support in the country is because Pakistan has not developed a CULTURE of RESPECT for the RULE OF LAW. Even a very conservative Justice Mr. Shaukat Siddiquie and the Supreme Court of Pakistan have declared this "Dharna" illegal". Why Pakistan has been not been unable to develop a culture of respect for Rule of Law; the reasons are many. Some are too sensitive to be discussed. Some are of historical nature. However, the Government should hold steadfast and let the country and these fanatics know that the government would "bear any burden", "pay any price" to establish its writ. In addition, it is very opportunistic of JI and PTI to criticize the Government and get political mileage out of it. Shame on them!
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Nov 26, 2017 05:18am
The government cannot and should not accept each and every demand of these fanatics.
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Nov 26, 2017 05:26am
Imran is inventor of this ugly tradition.He can't exonerate himself from this.
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Nov 26, 2017 05:42am
I am a strong supporter of PTI. But here I disagree with PTI. These lunatics were not ready to listen. What other choice do you have, TELL ME PLEASE. I am not a fan of PMLN. But here I strongly support government action.
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Nov 26, 2017 05:52am
According to my understanding protestors are supported by IK. They were hand in gloves in last elections. IK is accountable for this mess as well.
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Nov 26, 2017 06:20am
Look how is talking!
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Nov 26, 2017 06:20am
Imran Khan has no business talking here, he himself took thousands of people, including young people who missed school, shop keepers who lost money because IK had them sitting there for weeks. If you must protest, do it peacefully, do it for a day or two and go home. Why destroy property, why close down the whole city, why terrorize people on the streets???
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Nov 26, 2017 06:30am
How can we get rid of leaders such as IK Jamaat Islami and the likes of them. A solution could be a rewarded with a Nobel Prize.
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Nov 26, 2017 06:35am
@Adil Jadoon they thrashed the police and its back to faizabad again. So apart from burned vehicles dead and injured people and billions lost due property/ asset loss nothing was achieved.had the same been done in lahore before they left it would have been easier to contain...!
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Nov 26, 2017 07:28am
Imran Khan is the real problem who stared attaching parliament, PTV and police, now he wants writ is state?
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Nov 26, 2017 07:52am
Easiest part is criticism. Why did they not persuade the miscreants to clear the roads.
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Nov 26, 2017 09:00am
As an independent voter and observer I cannot help but to write that lots of you still don’t have the idea about this issue. This protest has been carefully orchestrated by the government to divert attention from current courts proceedings but it backfired.
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Nov 26, 2017 11:09am
The act of government is not right but the court and government was giving deadlines and saying for dialogues.
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Nov 26, 2017 11:28am
Agree that the main responsibility is on the law minister but how come any member of parliament or any of the political parties stand clear of this mischievous law ? Every party and member are also responsible, though not equally. They should have shown courage to accept it.
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Nov 26, 2017 11:43am
Peolpe who are held bent upon their illogical demands should be delt strictly as the Govt. have have already cleared the matter.
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Nov 26, 2017 04:05pm
Politics on dead bodies nothing unusual for both of them PTI n ji.
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Nov 26, 2017 07:20pm
As a matter of principle the whole parliament should resign as the law was passed by all not just by the minister. It is expected and understood that all members would at least read the draft before voting. Govt lawyers may vote without reading on the instruction of the PM/Party but opposition is supposed to read it carefully if drafted without their consent. Opposition more at fault than ruling members.
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Nov 26, 2017 08:22pm
Latoon kay bhoot baton say nahin mantay.
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