ISLAMABAD: Top cabinet members on Thursday vowed to take action against those involved in recent violent protests orchestrated by the TLP and made it clear that the individuals using firearms and setting ablaze public property would not be spared.
However, they made it clear that only the TLP office holders and members would be the target of the planned crackdown — amid the false propaganda that the government is set to go after all the religious leaders.
Read more: Government to hunt down fake news propagators, troll cells
Violence cannot be allowed in the name of right to protest, they said and added that the government would take very possible measure to protect the life and property of people.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his deputy Talal Chaudhry, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf were speaking after meeting on law and order situation.
The promise came after the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government on Thursday said they would recommend the Centre to ban the TLP as law enforcers continue hunting down the culprits who paralysed the routine life at a time when Pakistan is facing the challenge of rising terrorism and aggression along its western borders by the Afghan Taliban and terrorist groups they are housing in Afghanistan.
In fact, the Afghan Taliban issued a statement in favour of TLP during the violent protests, showing the connection between different terrorist and extremist groups despite the differences on interpretation of Islam.
It’s a developing story. Details to follow.