Govt To Withdraw Appeal Filed Against LHC Order Directing TLP Chief Saad Rizvi's Release

A meeting of the federal and provincial authorities chaired by Federal Minister Ali Muhammad Khan discussed the contents of the government's agreement signed with the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). It was decided that the appeal filed against the release of TLP chief Saad Rizvi would be withdrawn.

The government had filed an appeal against the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision directing the authorities to release Saad Rizvi if he is not wanted in any other case.

Punjab Minister for Law Raja Basharat, secretaries of the federal interior ministry, additional chief secretary of the Punjab Home Department and some representatives of the proscribed TLP were present in the meeting.
The government has already released more than 800 TLP workers who were arrested amid riots by the group. Minister Raja Basharat however said that the workers who have FIRs registered against them would not be released.

Meanwhile, Maulana Bashir Farooqui, who was part of the talks between government and the extremist group, said that the agreement would be made public in 10 days. He added that the contents of the accord do not contradict Pakistan's national interest.