RAWALPINDI: The residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad continued suffering as Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers and supporters continued their sit-in at Faizabad on the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

However, sources said, the protest was expected to be called off as negotiations were in final stages between the government and TLP.

“A draft agreement is being given final touches. We are hopeful in next few hours the TLP will announce to end the sit-in,” said a government officer.

The TLP staged the protest against Israel, demanding the government to announce the boycott of all Israeli products besides declaring the Israeli prime minister as a terrorist. Moreover, the government should also provide medical and food assistance to the Palestinians facing brutalities in the hands of Israeli forces in Gaza and other areas. The protest is headed by TLP leader Hafiz Saad Rizvi.

Because of the protest, Islamabad Expressway and other main arteries have been blocked. The traffic is diverted to other roads, creating gridlocks and causing difficulty for commuters. Murree Road is closed from Shamsabad to Faizabad and public is forced to use Double Road to reach Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Muharram 9 procession will take place in Islamabad on Tuesday in which a large number of people will participate. The Ashura procession will be held in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. Therefore, the sources said, the Islamabad capital administration had been making efforts to convince the TLP to call off the protest. Sources in the Islamabad administration said efforts were underway to get the sit-in ended on Monday night.

Like TLP, other religo-political parties, including JUI-F and JI, had also staged protest rallies in different cities against Israel’s brutalities in Gaza since October last year.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2024