TLP calls off countrywide protest after reaching agreement with government

Pakistani rangers take position during the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party protest against the court decision to overturn the conviction of Christian woman Asia Bibi, in Karachi on October 31, 2018. (AFP)
Updated 03 November 2018
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TLP calls off countrywide protest after reaching agreement with government

  • According to the deal, the government will initiate procedure to place Aasia Bibi’s name on exit control list
  • TLP has also ‘apologized to anyone whose sentiments may have been hurt’ by its actions during the protests

ISLAMABAD: The government and Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) on Friday reached a five-point agreement to end protests over the acquittal of a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, who was sentenced to death in 2010 on blasphemy charges.

According to the agreement, “legal process will be initiated” to put Bibi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) that mentions all those individuals who are prohibited from leaving Pakistan.

The government has said that it will not oppose a review petition filed against the Supreme Court verdict in the Aasia Bibi case. The two sides have also agreed to take immediate legal action over any casualties that may have occurred during the protests against Bibi’s acquittal. Apart from that, all those arrested on October 30 or thereafter will be released with immediate effect.

According to the agreement, TLP has also “apologized to anyone whose sentiments were hurt” during the protests.

The signatories of the deal include Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Dr Noorul Haq Qadri, Punjab Law Minister, Raja Basharat, senior TLP leader, Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri, and the organization’s central chief nazim, Muhammad Waheed Noor. A couple of hours after the agreement, TLP Chief Khadim Rizvi asked his followers, protesting across the country, to disperse peacefully.

It may be recalled that the complainant in the Aasia Bibi case, Qari Muhammad Salaam, filed a review petition on Thursday against the Supreme Court verdict and demanded that the authorities place Bibi’s name on the ECL until the apex court’s decision was reviewed.

Pakistan’s top court had said in its Wednesday’s judgment that the prosecution had “categorically failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt” in the Aasia Bibi case.


Pakistan PM orders strategy to improve project execution as multilateral lenders propose reforms

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Pakistan PM orders strategy to improve project execution as multilateral lenders propose reforms

  • Shehbaz Sharif says he will personally lead a steering committee to speed up priority projects
  • Four working groups proposed to streamline approvals, procurement, land issues and staffing

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed officials to draw up a detailed strategy to improve the planning and execution of development projects, saying he would personally chair a steering committee aimed at ensuring timely and transparent completion of priority schemes.

The move came during a meeting where the World Bank and Asian Development Bank presented recommendations to the government on strengthening project implementation.

According to the prime minister’s office, participants received a briefing that said project approvals involve multiple steps and need simplification, while timely procurement and better readiness tools could also help accelerate implementation.

“National projects of critical importance must be completed transparently and on time,” Sharif told officials, according to the statement. “This is our priority.”

He said the federal and provincial steering committee on development-sector reforms would be headed by him.

The statement said four working groups were also proposed during the meeting: one to review approval and preparation processes, a second to modernize procurement, a third to address land acquisition and resettlement challenges, and a fourth to focus on human-resource alignment and staff deployment for development schemes.

Sharif thanked the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for their support and said development projects must be aligned with the objectives of Pakistan’s Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and provincial Annual Development Plans (ADPs).

The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers, provincial representatives, senior civil servants and the country directors of both multilateral lenders.