ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The capital administration has issued a notice to leaders of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Thursday, as the party’s sit-in at the Faizabad interchange entered its second day, informing them that their ongoing protest was illegal and warning them of legal action.

This is the fifth notice of its kind served to the party within the last year. The administration also served notices to the party leadership on Nov 5, Nov 16, Nov 17 and Nov 24, 2017, over its last sit-in at Faizabad.

Activists and supporters, alongside local TLP leaders, are currently holding a sit-in in various parts of the capital, including at Faizabad, the expressway, in Rawat, Chongi No.26, Bhara Kahu and I.J. Principal Road, disrupting life in the capital.

The notice, issued to Markazi Ameer Maulana Inayatul Haq from the office of the district magistrate, stated: “It has come to the notice of this office that a protest under your leadership will be expected in Islamabad.

“In this perspective it is hereby informed that in the wake of prevailing law and order situation and recent terrorist attack in the country, section 144 CrPC has been imposed in Islamabad on unlawful assembly/public gathering.”

It added that the Capital Development Authority had notified Parade Ground near Faizabad as a ‘Democracy Park and Speech Corner’, where lawful events or peaceful protests will be allowed after due approval or no-objection certificate (NOC) from the administration.

The notice said that a request for an NOC had not yet been received regarding this protest, and said there was a likelihood that the protest would attempt to enter the Red Zone without obtaining approval from the competent authority.

It stated: “In view of forgoing, it is hereby intimated that in case of non-obtaining of NOC, the protest will not be allowed in the federal capital and necessary legal proceedings/action will be taken against the violators in accordance with the relevant provision of law.”

Officials from the district administration and police said the notice was sent to the party leaders through various communications services but they had not replied thus far. Concerned officers from the administration have also tried to approach the local TLP leadership for negotiations, but were given the cold shoulder, they said.

Administration and police have removed road blockades in Taramri, Rawat, Bhara Kahu and on the G.T. Road, officials said, but the situation at Faizabad and in surrounding areas along the expressway remains unchanged.

They said they were trying to get the roads, including points of entry, cleared. Rounds of evacuation and occupation continued at the majority of entry points, as police pushed protesters to green areas and sites near the roads, and protesters returned some time later and blocked them.

Protesters and police, Frontier Constabulary and Rangers personnel also engaged in confrontation in some areas, such as Taramri, where protesters pelted police with rocks and used batons, and police fired tear gas and baton charged them.

They said protesters in some spots also damaged public and private property, including vehicles.

What to expect on Friday

Apart from the TLP, which concentrated all its efforts on Faizabad, none of the other religious parties were able to muster support for a sizeable protest in the capital in the last two days.

However, the TLP has trigged a race for activity among right-wing groups, which have announced that they will observe a day of protest today (Friday) against the Supreme Court judgement in Aasia Bibi’s case.

The Milli Yakjehti Council (MYC) has called for nationwide protests and for Ms Bibi’s name to be placed on the exit control list. The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) is part of the MYC.

Meanwhile Ahmed Ludhianvi, leader of the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), has announced a protest in Islamabad after Friday prayers.

Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia, the board of seminaries belonging to the Deobandi school of thought, and Lal Masjid’s Shuhada Foundation have also condemned the SC decision. Although seminary students were expected to attend the protests on Friday, the board has banned students from participating.

Partial strike in Rawalpindi

Traders participated in a partial strike in the city and cantonment areas, on the call of the traders association, to express solidarity with religious parties against Aasia Bibi’s acquittal by the SC.

Nearly all the shops on Benazir Bhutto Road, Liaquat Road, Jinnah Road, Iqbal Road, College Road, Saidpur Road, Jamia Masjid Road and Bani Chowk, and in Bohar Bazaar near Lal Haveli, Moti Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Bhabara Bazaar, Nankari Bazaar, Gunjmandi, Gawalmandi, Commercial Market, Sadiqabad, Raja Bazaar, Kashmiri Bazaar and adjoining commercial areas were closed. Restaurants, bakeries and pharmacies remained open across the city.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2018