TLP never ‘unconditionally’ demanded expulsion of French ambassador from Pakistan — Mufti Muneeb

ISLAMABAD: A top cleric who was among a group that helped arrange talks between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) religious political party said on Tuesday the outlawed group had not demanded the “unconditional” expulsion of the French ambassador but that the issue should be debated in parliament.
TLP reached a deal with the government on Sunday, ending more than a week of clashes with police that left at least six policemen dead and scores injured on both sides. The details of the pact have not been shared with the public by either side.
TLP began a protest march last month calling for the release of its jailed leader Saad Rizvi. The group has also been calling for the expulsion of France’s ambassador over the publication of caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in a French satirical magazine last year. Last week, the government said it was ready to meet all of the group’s demands except for breaking diplomatic ties with France.
“TLP has never said that the government should expel the French ambassador and cease its relations with France,” Mufti Muneebur Rehman told Arab News. “They have said that this issue should be presented before parliament. Parliament can decide keeping in view Pakistan’s interest in the international community, our foreign policy and all other elements related to the country’s interest.”
He added that TLP would accept whatever decision was taken by parliament.
“They [TLP] have never said that if the government will not do it [expel France’s envoy], we will attack or ransack the French embassy. TLP is saying that this issue [publication of caricatures] has hurt our [Muslims] feelings and parliament should decide it. It is not an unconstitutional demand,” Rehman added.
His comments came as TLP supporters continued a protest sit-in for the fifth consecutive day in Wazirabad, a city located about 190 kilometers from Islamabad, despite the deal with the government.
“I am confident that the agreement signed will be implemented and things will return to normal,” Rehman said. “Protesters have vacated all roads and once implementation [of agreement] starts they will go back to their homes.”
TLP was founded in 2015 to tackle actions it considers blasphemous to Islam and has mounted multiple protest marches marred by bloodshed that have twice brought Islamabad to a standstill.
In April, the government agreed to have parliament vote on kicking out the French ambassador but backtracked, with Prime Minister Imran Khan saying to take such action would isolate Pakistan internationally.
On Tuesday, a senior TLP leader said the government had released over 1,000 jailed TLP supporters, and would free another 1,300 as well as drop all criminal charges against them under the peace agreement signed on Sunday.
The Lahore High Court is also taking up a petition tomorrow, Wednesday, challenging Saad Rizvi’s detention.
“We are expecting good news regarding Saad Rizvi’s release tomorrow,” Saifi said, adding that the government’s lawyers would meet TLP lawyers in Lahore today, Tuesday, to discuss legal complications in cases against TLP members.
The group estimates the government has included at least 500 of its members in the fourth schedule, a listing of suspected militants under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997.
“The government has promised to remove all our members included in the fourth schedule and a process for it has already started,” Saifi said.
The government banned TLP in April after violent protests by the group in which at least six policemen were killed and 800 people were injured, according to government figures.

TLP never ‘unconditionally’ demanded expulsion of French ambassador from Pakistan — Mufti Muneeb