Ministry says 2,135 protesters have been arrested from across the country
Following the three-day protest staged by a religious party in the country which led to chaos and the killing of three people, including two policemen, the Federal Ministry of Interior has issued a detailed report related to arrests made in this regard.
Some 2,135 protesters have been arrested from across the country, out of which 1,669 were from Punjab and 228 were from Sindh, according to the report of the Interior Ministry.
The report further detailed that 193 people were arrested from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 45 were taken into custody from the federal capital of Islamabad.
The government has registered cases against the protesters under the country's anti-terrorism laws for creating chaos, vandalising public and private properties, and beating and killed of police personnel.Nearly 100 policemen were left injured during clashes with the protesters.
It may be recalled that in the last few days, protests were organised by a religious party in different cities, while sit-ins were also staged in many parts of the country, causing massive traffic jams and distress to the citizens.
When the police tried dispersing the protesters, they clashed with security personnel and beat a policeman with sticks to death.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to ban Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under the anti-terrorism law.
Speaking about the TLP's negotiations, Rasheed said the government wanted to table a resolution in the National Assembly and wanted to form a consensus on it but they (TLP) insisted on marching to the Faizabad Interchange.
"Our efforts to convince them failed. As far as the matter of Khatam-e-Nabwat is concerned, I am ready to give my life," declared the minister.
He said miscreants had snatched a rifle from a police officer and used it to fire at others in one of the protests.
The minister defended the government, saying it intended to honour the agreement made with the TLP earlier.
Regarding the FIRs filed against protesters, Rasheed said they were all filed in accordance with the law.
"I have never supported this party nor had ever met Khadim Hussain Rizvi (late TLP chief)," the minister said, adding the ban has been imposed due to TLP's "character" and not due to any political compulsion.