How to handle the Tehreek e Labbaik March towards Islamabad? The Pakistani Islamic extremist scholar Khadim Hussain Rizvi established the Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan Movement in 2015. The party became the fifth largest party in the 2018 Pakistani parliamentary elections, but failed to win a seat in either the National Assembly or the Punjab Assembly.

The party, on the other hand, is known to oppose changes in Pakistan’s blasphemy law. They call for the establishment of Shariah law as a basic Islamic law in Pakistan. Tehreek e Labbaik was officially recognized by the Government of Pakistan in 2017 by giving them a crane as a symbol of the election.

Crisis of the French Ambassador in Pakistan

In 2020, Tehreek e Labbaik Head Khadim Hussain Rizvi held protests demanding the expulsion of the French ambassador on the issue of the Prophet Muhammad’s offensive caricatures. However, Tehreek e Labbaik succeeded in negotiating with the Government and signed an agreement to end its protests in Islamabad.

According to the agreement, the Government would get a decision made by Parliament regarding the expulsion of the French ambassador within three months, which never happened.

After the signature of the agreement, Khadim Rizvi died due to suffering from a fever and breathing problems. After Rizvi’s death, his son, Saad Hussain Rizvi, led the movement. However, in April 2021, the Pakistani Government detained Rizvi in Lahore and charged him under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act and banned the party after they pressurized the Government to expel the French Ambassador and cut ties with France.

On the 12th of Rabiul Awwal, the Tehreek e Labbaik protests began in response to the Government’s inability to expel the French Ambassador and demand the release of Saad Hussain. After the deadline for the release of their leader, Saad Hussain Rizvi, expired.

They launched a march towards Islamabad. However, the Government, in order to stop the march, decided to seal and block all districts and roads along the Tehreek e Labbaik march’s route from Lahore to Islamabad.

During a Tehreek e Labbaik protest on a main highway near Lahore in a march towards Islamabad, four policemen were killed by armed activists from the banned group Tehreek e Labbaik in a clash with security forces.

Roads Blockade of Tehreek e Labbaik

After days of tension, including a clash in which policemen were killed, the interior ministry ordered security personnel to be deployed around the Red Zone and Faizabad Interchange, while a contingent of 200 police personnel were deployed at the entry points in Tarnol, Bhara Kahu, and Rawat. Moreover, 500 Rangers were provided to the Capital Administration.

Meanwhile, the Capital Administration and police were having difficulty arranging containers to seal different areas, according to sources, who stated that only 60 containers have been arranged in the last three days. Fifty containers were placed around Faizabad Interchange to seal it, while the remaining ten containers were placed around the French embassy. Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the Government would use force to block the Tehreek e Labbaik activists from entering the capital, Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi’s metro bus service has been suspended by the Capital Administration. The bus service will continue to provide transport from I.J. Road to the Islamabad Secretariat. Patients, students, and commuters are suffering greatly as a result of the roadblocks in the twin cities.

Is Pakistan ready to meet Tehreek e Labbaik Demands?

A day earlier, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad had declared that the Government agreed to the demands put by the banned Tehreek e Labbaik except for the one seeking to shut down the French embassy.

In response to the Tehreek e Labbaik’s demand regarding the French embassy, the minister stated that “there is huge pressure on Pakistan.” He added, “Pakistan may face various issues if we expel the French ambassador.”

“You can all see how bad our economy is, yet France is leading Europe. France has the support of every European country “he stated “Shutting down the French embassy will have an impact on Pakistan’s relations with other European countries,” he explained.

However, the Government on Monday released 350 activists of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik party. ” We have released 350 Tehreek e Labbaik members and we are still waiting them to open both sides of the road of Muridke as per the decision with the TLP.” tweeted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid. On the other hand, the banned party insist on continuing the protest march unless the Government accept all of their demands.

How to handle the situation?

One cannot understand why is the government not focusing on resolving the issue. Rather, it is helping escalate the crisis. The handling of situation requires a simple approach. Both sides should compromise. The Government should free Saad Hussain, and the party should realize that Pakistan cannot expel the French ambassador and cut ties with France; it would be like cutting ties with all of European countries.

Keeping in mind that there are 120,000 Pakistanis in France, however, the Muslim world should condemn such kinds of acts. We should unite as a Muslim Ummah and not let such kinds of acts be repeated. Giving warnings, boycotting their products, and expelling their ambassadors from all Muslim countries will definitely make them recognize their mistake.

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Moreover, as a diplomatic country, the Government of Pakistan should be able to handle such negotiations with any party before the situation gets out of control. On the other hand, the party should adopt a peaceful protest manner.