Thursday, November 01, 2018
By
GEO NEWS

Punjab Information Minister Chohan says protests may end tonight

By
GEO NEWS
|

LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Fayaz-ul-Hasan Chohan said the government was in contact with the leadership of the protesters and according to his information protests may end tonight.

“During the last 36 hours the Federal and Punjab governments have been in contact with the leadership of the protesters to reach an amicable solution,” Chohan told Geo News.

Chohan said Federal Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Qadri had been deputed by Prime Minister Imran Khan to hold talks. “He [Qadri] has held five rounds of dialogue and in light of that it is my information that matters have almost been settled and the sit-in would end tonight.”

The provincial minister said the government had not shown any aggression against the protesters and tried to sort out issues through dialogue. 

Protesters have taken to the streets and blocked roads in major cities of Pakistan since the apex court on Wednesday ordered the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted on blasphemy charges in 2010 and on death row for eight years.

In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Imran Khan supported the top court's "constitutional" decision in the case, and issued a stern warning to protestors against inciting citizens or challenging the writ of the state.