"If our agreement would not be acted upon, we will be back here," Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi
Day 7
TLP has finished their sit-in in Faizabad after an agreement with the government. Announcing the end of a 7-day long sit-in, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi announced that "if our agreement would not be acted upon, we will be back here".
More: Copy of the agreement between TLP and the government of Pakistan
In a press conference along with TLP leaders, a federal advisor (Rana Sanaullah) and the minister of information and broadcasting (Atta Tarar) announced to accept the TLP demands. The government vowed to send a massive aid of one thousand tons, including edibles and medicines, to Gaza by the end of this month with the assistance of TLP. The government of Pakistan will continue to dispatch such aid regularly and will provide medical facilities for injured Gazans for free. A committee is to be formed which will point out the companies which are complicit in the Gaza war, and the products from such companies will be banned officially in Pakistan. The ministers also declared the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu a terrorist. Furthermore, the government of Pakistan also vowed to expedite its efforts for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, an innocent Pakistani citizen in US jail for almost 20 years.
Day 6
Many notable journalists expressed their concerns about why the government has not fulfilled the demands of the TLP. Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, in his TV show, referred to the demands of the TLP as very legitimate doable actions for the government. He sad he was not able to understand why the government has not fulfilled the demands yet. Iqrar ul Hassan, another famous TV anchor, also urged the government to fulfil the demands of the TLP 'which are the demands of not only all the Pakistani, rather everyone with a little bit of sense of human rights all over the world.' Dr. Danish also praised the activities and mobility of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan.
So far, there is no conclusive outcome of talks between TLP and the government. However, today for the first time in 6 days, federal ministers got in touch with TLP's negotiating committee. An advisor to the Prime Minister, the federal minister for information and broadcasting, and IG Islamabad were among the government's committee members who held talks with TLP. Dr. Shafique Ameeni, Allama Ghulam Abbas Faizi and Mufti Umair Al-Azhari were part of the TLP's committee which is leading talks with the government regarding its demands about Gaza.
Coverage
4:15 AM: Heavy rain in Islamabad, participants of the sit-in waiting for the rain to stop
Day 5
Summary
TLP's sit-in continued with full zeal and zest on the day of Ashur. A massive crowd was seen chanting 'Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah' and 'Haider Haider' when the rain started pouring in Islamabad. In their addresses, TLP leaders and the participants of the sit-in once again vowed to not return to their homes until their demands were met or they embraced martyrdom if the government launched an operation against the sit-in. In his short message on Ashur, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi requested the President, Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff to order all the offices and official personnel to wear Palestinian flag pins and put the same flag in offices and official vehicles. He also referred to Netanyahu to send a message that every Muslim around the world is a Palestinian, not only the ones in Gaza or the West Bank.
So far, we have not seen any developments in the talks and they seem to be stalled at the moment. However, there seems a paid campaign from some elements of the ruling party to disseminate false information on the mainstream and social media. Baseless news was broadcast on a private channel 'Public News' without providing any evidence. The netizens are demanding that PEMRA and the legal team of TLP must take action against the channel.
Coverage
3:00 PM: Rain in Islamabad; TLP's sit-in still in its swing; participants are chanting "Haider Haider" amid rain
Day 4
Summary
Despite harsh weather, TLP's sit-in continued on the fourth day with full zeal and zest. On the other hand, the government didn't show any positive response towards TLP's demands. However, we got reports of police personnel forcing nearby mosques to close them down so no sit-in participant could have access to them. Similarly, videos have been circulated on social media today where Police can be seen forcing owners to close the restaurants to make food and water inaccessible to the participants. Some roads also have been closed today by the administration after which it was speculated that "something" was in the offing. There has been no result of talk so far as the government couldn't provide any details of its claimed aid to Gaza. There are absolutely no developments reported regarding the rest of the two demands of the TLP.
Day 3
Summary
Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan's sit-in has entered its fourth day now but we haven't seen any meaningful developments from the government to fulfill the demands. When asked in a press conference, the information minister just had a few verbal statements of the prime minister made at the meeting of the Shanghai CoopperationOrganisation (SCO) and none of that is relevant to TLP's demands. We couldn't see any change in the government's attitude on the third day as well and a few administration officers remained engaged in the talks. "They just seemed to linger on the things," said Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi in an interview.
A former senator Mushtaq Ahmad led a rally of the 'SaveGaza' campaign which concluded at Faizabad where Mushtaq Ahmad along with the rally participated in the sit-in.
Day 2
Summary
TLP's sit-in continued at the Faizabad interchange where we didn't see much change in the number and the momentum of the participants. Various TLP leaders were seen among the participants having light discussions. Several journalists have been seen including some of them interviewing Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi. TLP's Ameer also led the funeral of a worker who passed away in a road accident at Faizabad. In their addresses, TLP leaders once again vowed that they would continue the sit-in until their demands were met. However, we did not get any reports of a serious response from the government about the demands of Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan. Although, some indirect hints suggest that the government is not taking the matter seriously yet. Many journalists and politicians have backed TLP's demands as fully legitimate and acceptable. However, until the end of Day 2, we are still awaiting the government to do something meaningful to help Gazans and Palestinians.
Day 1
Summary
Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan started its march from Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi in the afternoon. Hundreds of thousands of participants reached the Faizabad interchange through towards Murree Road. The march was led by Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi along with many other notable leaders of TLP. After reaching Faizabad interchange, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi announced to stay at the interchange until their demands were met. Remember TLP has demanded the government of Pakistan to boycott Israeli products, prompt dispatch of edible and medical support for Gazans and declare Netanyahu a terrorist. TLP conveyed their demands to the government at the start of this month.
Coverage
04:50 PM: Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi has announced to remain at Faizabad until TLP's demands for Palestine are met. Remember TLP has demanded the government to declare Netanyahu (Israel's PM) as a terrorist.
04:10 PM: The Labbaik Ya Aqsa march has reached the Faizabad interchange which was blocked by the Islamabad administration. However, the participants removed the blockades and the Police have also left their positions for now.
03:45 PM: TLP's march is almost at Faizabad where the administration has sealed the interchange with containers and reasonable contingents of Police are present.
Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan's 'Labbaik Ya Aqsa' march is on its way to Faizabad. Hundreds of thousands of people reached Liaquat Bagh despite the DC Rawalpindi declining TLP's request to hold the rally, from where the march set off for Faizabad.