Rift between Tehreek-e-Labbaik factions widens over Lahore sit-in

LAHORE: The division in Tehreek-e-Labbaik, the religious group which recently held a protest sit-in at Islamabad and all over the country against the government, has become bitterly public.

Speaking in a programme at a private media channel Wednesday night, both Khadim Hussain Rizvi and Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali — the senior representatives of the religious party — claimed to be the real and only leaders of the group. 

Both the leaders denounced the party factions led by the other.

Khadim alleged that the Lahore sit-in led by Jalali is an attempt to take credit for the successful Islamabad sit-in that he spearheaded for around three weeks.

“He should have wrapped up the sit-in after the agreement, but he (Jalali) has a disease of taking credit. And we don’t have any treatment of such diseases,” Khadim said.

Sit-in continues in Lahore despite Faizabad agreement

Protesters in Lahore demand resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah

In response to the head of the party’s opposing faction, Dr Jalali said that Khadim demanded the resignation of the entire cabinet on the ground of killings of party workers, so why then did he settle on only the resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid.

Jalali also leveled the accusation that one of the leaders in Khadim’s party has indulged in un-Islamic practices. In response, the cleric interestingly held the opinion that one should not raise questions on the faith of others over small matters.

Islamabad Red Zone being cleared of containers 

Meanwhile, Islamabad’s Red Zone is being cleared from containers after the end of the sit-in. 

Nadra and Kashmir Highway Chowk has been opened for traffic.

However, where the residents of Islamabad have taken a sigh of relief; the Jalali-led faction’s sit-in outside Punjab Assembly at Mall Road, Lahore has entered its sixth day today.

The Jalali-led Tehreek-e-Labbaik is demanding the resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.