ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday decided not to withdraw the ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), with Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterating that ‘he has and will always be in the forefront on the matter of sanctity of Prophethood of Holy Prophet Mohammad Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)’. In a meeting of PTI’s parliamentary committee chaired by the prime minister which was also attended by the allied parties of PTI, PM Khan said there is no second opinion that there would be no compromise on the issue of sanctity of the Prophethood of Holy Prophet (PBUH). During the meeting, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, briefed the participants on the talks held with TLP on Monday evening in Lahore.

The meeting decided that the government would not withdraw cases filed against protesters under the murder clause of the Pakistan Penal Code. The sources said that the prime minister also praised Sheikh Rasheed and Noorul Haq Qadri for holding successful talks with TLP. They said that the cases registered under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance will be taken back, but cases against TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi and others booked under any sections contained within the PPC, would not be withdrawn.—ZULFIQAR AHMAD