'Doors never close in politics': PTI leader meets TLP chief Saad Rizvi

• PTI's Ejaz Chaudhry meets TLP chief Saad Rizvi in Lahore at Rehmatul Lil Alameen Mosque.
• Says it is the govt's responsibility to remain in contact with leaders "different from others".
• Chaudhry presents bouquet to TLP chief; says meeting was a gesture of goodwill.

LAHORE: PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry on Saturday met Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Maulana Saad Rizvi, with a TLP spokesperson saying that "doors never close in politics".

The TLP chief was released from jail on Thursday after more than seven months following a deal between the government and the party, the contents of which are yet to be publicly shared.

Rizvi was taken into custody on deputy commissioner Lahore's directives in April shortly after the party announced countrywide protests.

Chaudhry, in his meeting with Rizvi at the Rehmatul Lil Alameen Mosque in Lahore, also presented a bouquet to the TLP chief and congratulated him on his release from prison.

By showing up with a bouquet, Chaudhry made good on a promise he had made earlier this month. Speaking to Geo News, he said: "I will present a bouquet to Saad Rizvi when he is released."

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chaudhry said he came to meet Rizvi as a gesture of goodwill and that it is the government's responsibility to stay in contact with leaders who are "different from others".

"It is the responsibility of the state to build such ties with the people that create an atmosphere of harmony," Chaudhry added.

The PTI leader said he had expressed satisfaction over the government's agreement with TLP, and following the implementation of the deal, he had arrived at Rizvi's residence to meet him.

In response to a journalist's question whether he had visited Rizvi after seeking permission from Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said he "never meets" anyone without the premier's nod.

Responding to another question, he said it was too early to say whether the prime minister would hold a meeting with the TLP chief.

Govt strikes secretive deal with TLP

Rizvi's release on November 18 follows days of protests staged by the then-proscribed party.

The TLP announced an end to the prolonged sit-in after the government held successful talks and reached a deal with the party on October 31, which Mufti Muneeb-Ur-Rehman declared a "victory" for Islam.

However, the contents of the deal are still not known. Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on November 13 said that details of the agreement would be revealed "within 10 days".

On November 2, the government began implementing the secretive accord with TLP, with reports suggesting that it had released more than 800 supporters of the party arrested across Punjab.

In compliance with the deal, the Punjab government, on November 4, decided to remove the names of at least 90 activists of the then proscribed outfit from the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. In addition, the Punjab government decided to release 100 other activists of the organisation from different jails in the province.

Three days later, on November 7, the TLP ceased to be a proscribed organisation after the government accorded approval to the Ministry of Interior's summary asking for its removal from the First Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

On November 10, a Punjab Home Department notification was issued removing Saad Rizvi’s name from the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 with immediate effect.