Govt deal with protesters was 'firefighting', not a cure to the problem: Fawad Chaudhry
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Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday the agreement reached between the government and violent protesters who demonstrated against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi was "firefighting" and not a permanent solution to the larger problem of extremism.
"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," he told the BBC.
"Right now this is not a cure. This is firefighting, what we are doing," he said, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government was committed to the cure, which is "the real thing".
Editorial: Another surrender
He defended the government's decision to negotiate with the protesters, who blocked roads and disrupted traffic throughout the country for three days.
"We had two options: either to use force, 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."
Chaudhry said the decision on whether or not to bar Aasia Bibi from the leaving the country will be taken by a court.
The government will "take all steps necessary" to ensure Bibi's safety, the minister added.
The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and other religiopolitical parties had launched countrywide protests on Wednesday after the Supreme Court acquitted Bibi, who had been on death row for the past eight years on blasphemy charges.
Last night, the government and the TLP had signed a deal to conclude the latter's nationwide protest. One of the major concessions the government agreed to was to "initiate the legal process" to place Bibi's name on the exit control list (ECL).
The government had also assured the party that it would not oppose a review petition filed against the Supreme Court's judgement in the Aasia Bibi blasphemy case. The state further promised to take appropriate legal action to redress any deaths that may have occurred during the protests against the Aasia Bibi verdict and to release all people picked up in connection with the protests starting October 30.
The TLP, in turn, only offered an apology "if it hurt the sentiments or inconvenienced anyone without reason".
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Comments (51) Closed
Nov 04, 2018 12:57am
You reap what you sow.
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Nov 04, 2018 01:09am
agree, jailing the so called leaders, and agents acting on their behalf is required. confiscate and sell all their assets to pay for damage caused, and bankrupt the parties involved.
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Nov 04, 2018 01:13am
................What steps do you need to take ?? Fill us in!!
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Nov 04, 2018 01:32am
When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations.” ..
― Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956
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Nov 04, 2018 01:36am
Excuses. This is complete capitulation.
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Nov 04, 2018 01:37am
Governance failures accept it
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Nov 04, 2018 01:38am
Where, when and who is going to find the cure, Sir
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Nov 04, 2018 02:11am
We nurtured this genie for last 5 decades and now we wish it to go away in a day
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Nov 04, 2018 02:34am
But what is that cure??
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Nov 04, 2018 03:01am
You bet the government will need to take popular decisions to manage protests of this kind. There actions not only give Islam a bad name but also cause untold damage to life and livelihood of working people of Pakistan. It may become a litmus test by which PTI government fails or seen as successful in arresting Pakistan's standing in the comity of national. Either way this periodic lawlessness has to be stopped for once.
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Nov 04, 2018 03:09am
mr minister, the decision was reserved few weeks ago, u knew if it came as it came, there would be fuss. y no contingency planning was done? where was CM punjab during all this fuss? remember, failing to plan is infact planning to fail
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Nov 04, 2018 03:44am
What is the information minister talking about? The court has already set her free and there is no law which allows the government to hold her in custody or prevent her from leaving the country. Please let her go. She and her family have already suffered tremendously for a crime which she never committed and Supreme Court declared her innocent. Stop playing games
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Nov 04, 2018 04:17am
Temporary fix is better to avoid human tragedies but a permanent solution to avoid in future screwups again. Agree with the information minister.
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Nov 04, 2018 04:47am
shameful to say the least.
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Nov 04, 2018 04:54am
TLP torched cars and property but it was for a good reason and therefore your sentiments or financial loss really is not very important. I do see a cure coming finally
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Nov 04, 2018 05:03am
True. Can't confront such fired up protesters who have nothing to lose. Diffuse for now, Divide and concur with a strategy.
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Nov 04, 2018 05:29am
Could you please elaborate what you got out of that so called negotiation? That was abject surrender stop lying.
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Nov 04, 2018 05:34am
Hope they do it actually.
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Nov 04, 2018 06:38am
Yea, in negotiations we give something and take something, except we gave EVERYTHING that was demanded and got one line tepid 'apology' in return. Some negotiations this!!!
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Nov 04, 2018 06:53am
Fire men and fire fighters.
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Nov 04, 2018 06:54am
What is the cure?
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Nov 04, 2018 07:20am
Loss of 4 days production is 1% of GDP. The TLP should be made to pay for it.
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Nov 04, 2018 07:50am
There is not much time left to continue firefighting and the government also does not seem to have a permanent solution.The TLP has already threatened to go on rampage again if the original decision is not changed and the review petition in most cases is not changed so we can expect a second round of rampage.It is also surprising to note that there have been no charges laid against the TLP in spite of the language they have used against the SC and the Army.This threatening language is not acceptable in any democratic set up and they would be arrested and charged.
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Nov 04, 2018 08:05am
This PTI gov't will be coming up with good solution to these problems in the future! At least they did a better jobs then pmln in model town!
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Nov 04, 2018 08:32am
Good job Fawad. You must bring them to task.
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Nov 04, 2018 09:07am
Better economic opportunities and a revised carriculum - for all levels - schools and madrasshs - to impart proper islamic knowledge and essential science and technology and civics knowledge - and we can root out the extremism on both ends.
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Nov 04, 2018 09:12am
Showing weakness, gives more and more strength to these goons, creating more difficulties for the future. you can't please them, they will demand more and more and will robe others freedom.
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Nov 04, 2018 09:15am
By punishing an innocent, who declared innocent by the court, who is the authority for justice?
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Nov 04, 2018 09:20am
Fear of life and violence, seems we have to live with this.
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Nov 04, 2018 09:25am
Who taught them how to blackmail an elected government and how to accomplish an impossible task? Time to reap the harvest.
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Nov 04, 2018 10:07am
Government should pay for 100s of cars, buses and trucks burnt in 3 days.
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Nov 04, 2018 10:11am
I agree with Mr. Fawad Chaudhry, our active Information Minister, that the government should try to find a long term solution to the problem of extremism. For that purpose, the government should introduce educational curriculum at all levels that emphasizes on the Rule of Law, respect for the decisions of the Courts, the Supremacy of the Constitution, tolerance and empathy for the fellow human being regardless of religion, sect, creed, caste, ethnic background or political loyalty.
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Nov 04, 2018 10:14am
Wise only after the event.
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Nov 04, 2018 10:34am
@Arish, spot on. We need to sow better
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Nov 04, 2018 10:45am
First thing Imran should do after returning from China is fire his Minister of Information.
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Nov 04, 2018 11:08am
@Alba, much easier said than done
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Nov 04, 2018 11:14am
@atif, so YOU knew what the SCP was going to decide. The ONLY way would have to arrest all potential troublemaking leaders ahead of time., BUT then you folks would talk about that being ‘undemocratic’. There is no room for ‘real’ democracy in Pakistan UNTIL there is reliable ‘all equal before law’ and ‘people have a clearer understanding’ of the laws.
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Nov 04, 2018 11:30am
If you really wanted to bring to justice who were involved in criminal activities, then it should have been part of the agreement.
If you are catching criminals now with intention upfront, then it sounds your intentions were deceiving at the time of contract.
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Nov 04, 2018 12:36pm
he is right, no matter what state can't exactly shoot its citizen, especially one like ours. But hopefully they will take some action soon against such people.
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Nov 04, 2018 12:42pm
A quick and simple question what assurance we citizens have that such incident won’t occur in future? What remedies you’ve made except a lame contract agreement with those who never honor their promises?
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Nov 04, 2018 01:29pm
The question is: will there be a rule of law or mob rule in pakistan? Pakistanis must decide because the government is spineless.
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Nov 04, 2018 02:03pm
One should never compromise on principles for shortterm benefits. Otherwise one pays an higher price later.
Avoiding a problem is not the solution to the problem.
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Nov 04, 2018 02:04pm
@FIDA SAYANI, yes fawad is simply not the right person for the job.... He may have other talents...
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Nov 04, 2018 02:17pm
You continue "Firefighting" while the country burns in fire
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Nov 04, 2018 02:49pm
Great strategy used by PTI
Only clever and smart people can understand
Rest of the people will see the successful results with no bloodshed but punishing all those involved as per law.
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Nov 04, 2018 03:15pm
Leave bloodshed, isn't it the responsibility of state to protect public and property ? Country remained hostage in their hands, people suffered, witnessed vandalism; where were LEAs?
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Nov 04, 2018 03:16pm
The organisers and agitators need to be identified, held accountable for loss of revenue, destruction and loss of public and private property. A few months in the cells and a hefty fine. They will reconsider before indulging in the destruction of Pakistan's progression the next time. We need rule of law and above all accountability with punishment.
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Nov 04, 2018 04:22pm
The Supreme Court is the highest legal authority. It’s verdict cannot be challenged. It has acquitted Bibi who was falsely accused and implicated on frivolous and concocted grounds. It is a matter of great concern that a segment of society can ignore this ruling and incite violence in the name of religion and in the name of the greatest proponent of peace and tolerance. Have we learnt nothing from his example? All those who seek a confrontational course have to be taken to task, irrespective of the consequences. They must be given exemplary punishment. Then the next phase of enlightenment must begin with educational reform, seminary curriculum and reform , equality , justice - which have been the mantra of the PTI , accountability, eradication of corruption , opportunity for the dispossessed and justice for the victims of injustice and also for those who perpetuate injustice!
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Nov 04, 2018 04:39pm
If you are committed to the cure, then why have you capitulated and allowed this malignancy to metastasize? In the parlance of the field of medicine which you have invoked , you need a combined modality approach requiring chemotherapy, radiation surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, surgery and biological approaches! It is not too difficult to identify the solutions as the equivalent to these approaches are 1. Uphold the principles of justice for all 2. The dispensation of Justice must be in accordance with the law and without fear of reprisal 3. Equal opportunity for all 4. Democratic values 5. Progressive education emphasizing a modern and scientific approach. 6. Reform and supervision of religious institutions 7. Tolerance for a diverging points of view. 8. Accountability for our actions 9. Elimination of corruption 10. Repatriation of stolen wealth.
IK, if you can sincerely work on these issues, you will not only navigate the nation through troubled waters but will unify the majority of the people to a tolerant, progressive and enlightened Nation!
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Nov 04, 2018 06:31pm
A shameful surrunder to extreme bigots.
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Nov 05, 2018 03:32am
@Zaman, well said
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