ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has denied media reports about operation against protesters, and maintained that the government doesn’t want to pursue the violent path.
In a tweet on Friday, Fawad Chaudhry said that situation throughout the Country is under control and negotiations are underway with the protesters.
“The government is the guarantor of people’s lives and liberty,” he said.
The minister further said that the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri will hold talks with the protesters today as well.
ملک بھر میں حالات کنٹرول میں ہیں،مظاہرین کے ساتھ مذاکرات جاری ہیں حکومت عوام کی زندگی اور آزادی کی ضامن ہے مظاہرین کے خلاف آپریشن کی سوشل میڈیا پر خبریں غلط ہیں حکومت تشدد کی راہ نہیں اپناناچاہتی مذہبی امور نور الحق قادری آج بھی مظاہرین کی قیادت سے مذاکرات کریں گے،
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 2, 2018
In another tweet, Fawad Chaudhry said that mobile services will remain suspended in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Gujranwala from 8:00 am till sunset today.
Meanwhile, the demonstrations by protesters mainly belonging to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have entered third consecutive day today, and most of main roads and highways across the Country remain blocked.
Educational institutions including Colleges and Universities in Islamabad and Punjab will remain shut today. The intermediate-level supplementary examinations in Punjab Boards have also been postponed.
لاہور:پنجاب میں آج تمام کالج اور یونیورسٹیاں بند رہیں گی :محکمہ ہائر ایجوکیشن
پنجاب یونیورسٹی کے آج ہونیوالےامتحانات ملتوی کر دیئے گئے pic.twitter.com/YJSkDRJjY5— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) November 2, 2018
Earlier this morning, talking to the state-run television, the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the judgment of the Supreme Court in Asia Bibi case is a legal matter and dragging Pakistan army into it is regrettable.
The DG ISPR said that the government is currently engaged with the protestors and we want amicable and peaceful resolution of the matter. However, he made it clear that Pakistan army will play its constitutional role if requested by the government.