Mufti Muneeb urges government to hold talks with protesters

Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, on Saturday urged the federal government to hold talks with protestors of religious groups to peacefully end the two-week-long sit-in at Faizabad Interchange outside Islamabad. "The government should send an empowered delegation to the protestors to hold final and fruitful negotiations," the religious scholar said.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed Islamabad administration to defer operation against the protesters by 24 hours. Earlier, Ahsan Iqbal appealed to Ulema to play their role in ending the sit-in which has paralyzed Islamabad and Rawalpindi by blocking the main Faizabad Interchange for last 11 days, despite Islamabad High Court's orders to vacate the place.
The minister has directed the Islamabad administration to postpone the operation against protesters for next 24 hours. The minister said violence and putting common masses into difficulties in the name of the Holy Prophet [Peace Be Upon Him], should be avoided. He said the passage of the bill regarding finality of Prophethood (PBYH) is a historic achievement of the parliament and no one can alter this till the Day of Judgment. "After the passage of the bill, there is no justification for any sit-in," he said.
The protestors are calling for the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and strict action against those behind the amendment to the Khatm-e-Nabuwat oath in the Elections Act 2017, which had earlier been deemed a 'clerical error' by the government and subsequently rectified by the Parliament.
The protesters, belonging to Tehreek-e-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and the Sunni Tehreek Pakistan (ST) have occupied Faizabad Bridge which connects Rawalpindi and Islamabad through the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road, both of which are the busiest roads in the twin cities.