No need to protest after Khatam-e-Nabuwat clause restored, says Ahsan

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal spoke over the ongoing protest in Islamabad and said that there is no need to continue the protest as clause pertaining to Khatam-e-Nabuwat [Finality of Prophethood] has been restored to its original form. 

"The protesters no longer need to protest as we have given them a bigger law than they asked for", he remarked, adding "the issue has been resolved."

All the parties came together to restore the clauses of Khatam-e-Nabuwat [Finality of Prophethood] to their original form, he said while speaking to media at Press Information Department on Friday. 

Earlier in the day, Senate passed the Elections Amendment Bill, 2017, related to Khatam-e-Nabuwat clauses for voters, after the National Assembly (NA) did the same on Thursday.

On the Islamabad protest, he remarked that it has brought life to a standstill in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. 

"After all our tries and negotiations, they [the protesters] have not left till today," said Ahsan. 

"For the last 10 days, they have created a lot of problems for people of the two cities. It has increased traffic congestions and affected the daily lives of students, labourers, traders, shopkeepers."

Interior minister further said, "We want the issue to be resolved in a peaceful manner." 

Iqbal once again asked the protesters to engage in a dialogue with the government so that the issue can be resolved in an amicable manner. 

Addressing the protesters, he asked: "What image [of Pakistan] are you trying to portray?" He remarked that propagating hate is not the interest of Pakistan. 

IHC orders dislodging of protest 

Earlier in the day, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took notice of the non-implementation of its earlier orders directing the dislodging of the protest sit-in at Faizabad Interchange.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed the authorities to vacate the key route from the protesters by 10am Saturday (tomorrow).

During the court proceedings, Justice Siddiqui remarked that the protesters have not taken the court orders seriously, adding that the district administration has failed to use its powers.

"Freedom of expression does not mean that the rights of other citizens are usurped," he added.

In light of the court orders, the district administration has issued a final warning to the protesters to disperse by 10pm tonight, sources informed. 

Today, having summoned officials of the capital administration, Justice Siddiqui ordered the police to take the assistance of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Rangers if needed and clear the site through peaceful or non-peaceful means. 

NA passes laws

On Thursday, NA passed the bill on the amendment related to the restoration of the Khatam-e-Nabuwat [finality of Prophethood] clause to its original form in the Conduct of General Elections Order 2002.

The bill was presented before the assembly by Law Minister Zahid Hamid.

The newly-passed bill restores the Khatam-e-Nabuwat declaration for voters to its original form and makes sections related to Ahmadis more effective. The sections are 7B, 7C of the Conduct of General Elections Order 2002.