Govt to deploy Rangers in Punjab for 60 days to maintain law and order: Sheikh Rasheed

• Rasheed says govt wants to establish peace as there is a lot of international pressure on Pakistan.
• Says ambassador of France is not present in Pakistan, so proscribed organisation seems to have "another agenda".
• It is not possible for the government to shut down the French embassy.
  

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday announced that the government has decided to summon the Punjab Rangers to maintain the law and order situation in the province amid the ongoing protests staged by the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister said that the government wants to establish peace as there is a lot of international pressure on Pakistan.

"We have decided to summon the Rangers for a period of 60 days to maintain law and order situation in the province," Rasheed said. "Like Karachi, Rangers have been called in Punjab under Section 4 (2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, read with Article 147 of the Constitution of Pakistan."

The minister said that since the ambassador of France is not present in Pakistan, the proscribed organisation seems to have "another agenda" — as one of their demands from the government was the expulsion of the said envoy.

"Yesterday, I had warned that foreign powers want to impose sanctions on Pakistan," Rasheed said. "The TLP has turned into a militant organisation as its members had opened fire on policemen using Kalashnikovs."

"I am still warning the protesters to return home," Rasheed said, adding that the government cannot keep schools and hospitals closed due to the protests.

"The TLP is banned in Pakistan and now it is feared that it may be banned internationally too," Rasheed warned, adding that Pakistan won't be able to intervene if such a thing happens.

The minister said that the government tried holding talks with the proscribed organisation and kept its word, but "the TLP broke its promises."

"It is not possible for the government to shut down the French embassy," the interior minister said, adding that the government had already reached an agreement with the proscribed organisation and it will stand by the signed deal. 

"The government has to establish its writ and is not happy with the loss of innocent lives," Rasheed said referring to the martyrdom of four policemen. 

4 policemen martyred, 263 injured in clashes: IG Punjab

Meanwhile, Inspector General Punjab, Rao Sardar Ali Khan, while holding a press conference today, said that the police would do everything to establish peace in the province.

"Four of our policemen have embraced martyrdom, while 263 have sustained injuries after members of the prescribed organisation opened fire on the forces during their protest," the IG Punjab said.

"We won't let this gang get away with its actions," the IG added.

'TLP not a religious organisation'

Earlier, briefing the media on the cabinet's decision today, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said "TLP is not a religious organisation, it is a militant wing".

The minister said the cabinet had decided to deal with TLP like a militant organisation, as he slammed the proscribed political party for blocking roads and central arteries for their protests.

"They have already put up a show six times. The proscribed TLP cannot blackmail the state; it has no status. In the past, we have defeated terrorist organisations," he said.

The information minister, noting that six police officials were martyred during the protest, asked that till when would the state act as a silent spectator.

"We do not want bloodshed," he said and slammed the TLP for blocking the roads "without reason".

He asked the proscribed organisation to not underestimate the state's writ, as the government had waited long enough.

Chaudhry said several people joined the protesters with AK-47s in their hands.

PM orders stopping TLP's long march

In the light of TLP's protests, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that the government would not allow anyone to take the law into their hands as he issued directives to stop the long march planned by proscribed organisations.

Per sources, the decision was taken during a meeting of the Federal Cabinet. PM Imran Khan had said that the government "will not allow violence for political purposes."

During the meeting, the premier was briefed on the proscribed outfit's protest march, sources said, adding that the government has decided not to allow protesters to march beyond Jhelum.

Sources further added that the government has been adamant not to allow the long march "under any circumstances," and that "no talks will be held with the proscribed organisation."

"The government and the state are on one page regarding the protests," the premier said during the meeting, per sources, adding that the protesters will be "dealt with severely if they try to enter Islamabad."

Protests and traffic

Meanwhile, due to the protests, Pakistan Railways had announced alternate routes for several trains. Operations of Subak Khram, Islamabad Express, Rawal Express were suspended, while the Orange Line's route from Rawalpindi to Lahore was also suspended.

However, the rest of the trains would operate in line with their schedule.

Similarly, due to the ongoing six-day long protest, traffic has been suspended on GT Road, causing frustration to the commuters, as they are facing troubles.