If army’s help can be taken in floods, why can’t against Islamabad protesters, asks Khuhro

KARACHI (NNI): Senior Pakistan People’s Party leader and incumbent Sindh minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro says why can’t the government seek army’s help in quelling Islamabad protest like their assistance is taken during floods.

In a statement, Khuhro said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was responsible for ongoing sit-in by religious groups in Islamabad. He said the government had lost its writ due to sit-in and protests in the Capital.

Khuhro blamed the government for not using its resources to quell the protest at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange that is continuing since fortnight. He said the government must realize its responsibility especially after the court orders to evict protesters from a busy thoroughfare.

Earlier in a day, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah advised the government to seek help of Pakistan army to evict defiant protesters from the Faizabad Interchange. He said the government was constitutionally empowered to call in the military to assist civilian authorities to quell the protest of a religious or any other group.

The hundreds of activists and supporters of Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah have camped out at the Faizabad Interchange, which connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad, multiplying hardships of the people of the twin cities.

On Monday, the government convened a meeting of leading religious scholars belong to the various schools of thought in a bid to find a negotiated end to the protest, which has kept the capital on tenterhooks.

During the marathon meeting held at the Punjab House it was decided to form a committee headed by Pir Haseenuddin Shah to propose a comprehensive solution to the sit-in.

A day earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted two days’ time to the administration to clear the Faizabad Interchange of the protesters.

Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah has been protesting for a fortnight, demanding action against those responsible for making now-withdrawn amendment to the clause pertaining to the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat oath for electoral candidates and the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid.