LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday released 860 workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), days after reaching a deal with the group to end nearly two week-long protests and clashes between its activists and law-enforcing agencies and police.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) for Information Hassan Khawar said in a statement here that more than 1,800 activists of the proscribed outfit had been taken into custody under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) 1960, of whom 860 had been released.

He said an agreement was reached between the government and the TLP and a steering committee was holding meeting for its implementation.

He said the TLP activists had vacated the GT Road and other roads and the administration also had removed all the barricades and containers from the roads leading to Islamabad.

Those nominated in cases not included

Mr Khawar further said the government had restored the internet and mobile service in Gujranwala, Gujarat, Jhelum and other areas, resuming the routine activities in these areas.

Earlier, Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat told Dawn the people who were released had been arrested during various crackdowns and raids on the protesters since 12th of Rabiul Awwal when the TLP announced the march.

He said only those TLP activists were released after completing scrutiny who were not nominated in any case, adding the others who were nominated in the first information reports (FIRs) would have to obtain bail from courts.

The TLP had launched the latest round of protests in Lahore on Oct 20, primarily to exert pressure on the Punjab government for the release of its chief, Saad Hussain Rizvi, the son of its late founder Khadim Rizvi. The younger Rizvi has been detained by the Punjab government since April 12 for “maintenance of public order”.

After three days of clashes with the police in Lahore, the TLP started a long march on Islamabad on Oct 22. Five police officials were martyred and scores of others from both sides received injuries in the clashes in Lahore and Gujranwala as the marchers took the GT Road.

The TLP leadership on Oct 30 asked the protesters to wait at Wazirabad for further instructions when the government and the group started negotiations.

On Sunday last, members of the negotiating team from the government side claimed that they had reached an ‘agreement’ with the proscribed group but refused to divulge its details.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2021