Lahore: Protesters belonging to a faction of Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLY) have refused to call off their protest in Lahore despite the resignation of the law minister and end of countrywide protests by religious parties on Monday.
The group, led by Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali, is staging protests at two points in the provincial capital, including in front of Punjab Assembly, on city’s main Mall Road, and at Babu Sabu Interchange of Motorways.
Jalali had parted ways with Khadim Hussain Rizvi a few years ago, who led the three-week protest in Islamabad over an alleged attempt to revise the blasphemy law. However, the major protest by the Rizvi group ended on Monday following Faizabad agreement and Law Minister Zahid Hamid’s resignation.
The Jalali group, still protesting in Lahore, is demanding resignation of the entire federal cabinet and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah over his alleged controversial statement. The group called the Islamabad agreement an act “against the spirit of Islam”.
A few hundred protesters, under the patronage of Tehreek Sirat-e-Mustaqeem founder Ashraf Asif Jalali, camped outside Punjab Assembly, are blocking roads and refused to return unless their six demands were met.
The demands conveyed by Jalali include dismissal of Punjab Home Minister Rana Sanaullah and lodging a treason case against him for violating the Constitution; making Raja Zafar-ul-Haq committee report public and taking action against those nominated in it; removing the ban on mosques’ loudspeakers and withdrawing cases against prayer leaders booked for its violations.
