CoAS opposes use of force

Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reportedly opposed the use of force against the protesters of Faizabad sit-in and suggested that the issue should be resolved peacefully through negotiations. At a meeting, Chief of the Army Staff and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday discussed the law and order situation in the country in the aftermath of the operation against the protesters of Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYRA) where the army chief floated this suggestion.
No official statement of the meeting was issued from the Prime Minister's Office; however, private media reported that General Bajwa opposed the use of force saying it would be inappropriate to use force against our own people. The CoAS suggested that the issue be resolved peacefully through negotiations Army's assistance should be the last option. Bajwa was also quoted to have asked the government to make public Senator Raja Zafarul Haq's relevant report, identity of those responsible of the present situation and take them to task.
Chief of the Army Staff further stated that the situation of chaos and violence would bring bad name to the country. Meanwhile, transmissions of private media have also been restored on the intervention of the Army Chief, who according to the media, suggested that transmissions of private media should be restored. The Prime Minister agreed to his proposal and said that transmissions of news channels have been suspended temporarily in view of particular situation.
Chief of the Army Staff cut his UAE visit short and returned to the country to attend the meeting presided over by the Prime Minister. A statement of news channels' restoration said that in pursuance of policy directive received from the federal government through the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, PEMRA is pleased to withdraw its earlier decision of November 25, 2017 wherein transmission of all the news and current affairs satellite TV channels were suspended.
All said TV channels' transmissions have immediately been restored. All distribution networks have been directed to restore these channels on their original positions, immediately. The PTA also restored social media websites. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also held one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the developing situation in the wake of the sit-in of Faizabad. They deliberated on the future strategy including parleys with the protesting leaders of the TLYRA.