LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Even as they made it plain that they would take strict action if the situation grew worse, both the federal and Punjab governments on Thursday said they were not eager to launch any police operation against the rightwing groups protesting over acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case.

Information ministers in the two governments told journalists the governments had the will to force the protesters blocking various roads across the country to accept the writ of the state but were holding talks with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which is leading the protests.

Punjab’s Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan expressed the hope that a settlement would be reached soon.

“We hope the protest and dharna [sit-in] will end by tonight [late Thursday or early Friday],” he told journalists.

PTI announces on its official Twitter account federal government has no plans to put Aasia Bibi’s name on ECL

“Punjab is initially using the option of negotiations to end the protests... in the provincial metropolis as well as other parts of the province but will never allow anyone to challenge the writ of the state,” he said.

Mr Chohan said that federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri was negotiating with the leaders of TLP and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasoolullah (TLYR) and that five rounds of talks had already taken place.

Under the banners of the TLP and TLYR, protesters continued to block roads in many cities and towns across the country. And despite a clear warning from Prime Minister Imran Khan, policemen deployed near the protest sites stood by like silent spectators.

Mr Chohan said that the common people were facing a host of problems and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government could not let the demonstrators create more problems for them.

The minister said the complainant in Aasia Bibi’s case, Qari Muhammad Salam, had filed a review petition against the Supreme Court judgement in it. He had also demanded that her name be put on the Exit Control List.

He said the government was considering putting Aasia Bibi’s name on the list, but the PTI later said on its official Twitter account: “Federal government has no plan to put Aasia Bibi’s name on ECL or appeal for a review against the court’s verdict. A review petition has been filed by the concerned party, which has nothing to do with the government.”

The federal information minister tweeted that filing a review petition was a legal right that could be exercised by an individual and was acceptable to the court.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Fawad Chaudhry urged the leadership of TLP to move the courts to resolve the problem to their satisfaction. “You are free to go to the courts and approach the justice system,” he said, adding that Pakistan was governed by a Constitution, which was based on the principles of Quran and Sunnah.

He warned protesters against underestimating the resolve of the state because “Pakistan is not a banana republic”.

“Do not ever consider that the state is weak. You will not even know where things came from and what happened,” he said. “Those challenging the state and the system by making seditious remarks will face the consequences. We will not let anyone turn Pakistan into a banana republic.”

The minister, however, said the state should also be tolerant and accommodating. “We are not eager to launch any [military] operation, but they should not force us to do so.

“If they are even slightly intelligent then they will understand what I am hinting at.”

He said that Pakistan was a strong nuclear state and the people simply could not take law into their own hands.

But he declined to share details of any operation that might be taken against the protesters blocking various roads across the country. “I am not in a position to share the details with you, but things will be clear in a day or two,” the minister said.

The government had already set up a committee including several parliamentarians from the opposition parties in a bid to seek a way out of the crisis.

He said the prime minister had utmost respect and love for Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and that was why he had walked the streets of Madina barefoot when he was last there.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2018