Islamabad (November 20, 2017): After appearing before the Islamabad High Court for non-implementation of the court’s order to clear the Faizabad sit-in on Monday, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal appealed to the protesters once more to end their sit-in peacefully.
According to the details, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Punjab Home Secretary appeared before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), on Monday, after the court sought reply to why the government had failed to comply with the court’s order to have the protestors in Faizabad evicted by November 19. Earlier in the day, Inspector General-Islamabad (IG) and Chief Commissioner also appeared before the court presided over by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui .
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Speaking to the media after appearing before the IHC, Iqbal said the government appealed for a stay order to peacefully resolve the issue through talks. He told the court that as interior minister he took complete responsibility of the security forces not complying with IHC orders to disperse demonstrators by force, adding that he wanted to find a peaceful solution.
Iqbal said a consultative meeting with Ulemas had been called to help in talks with the protesters. He was hopeful that the issue will be resolved within the next 24 hours.
Iqbal said once more that the government wants to avoid taking action for fear of bloodshed. 
The minister claimed that there are conspirators who want a “Model Town or Lal Masjid”-like episode once again, referring to government action against political workers in Lahore in 2014 and seminary students in Islamabad in 2007, respectively.
He added that the Khatam-e-Nabbuwat laws are stronger than before.
“The impression that we compromised on Khatam-e-Nabbuwat is not correct. I am hopeful that we will resolve the issue in 24-48 hours,” he said further.
The minister said the government will make sure that citizens do not face such situations anymore.Earlier, Hearing the matter in front of Iqbal, Justice Siddiqui asked why court orders to end the protest are not being implemented.
As the hearing began on Monday, Justice Siddiqui had expressed reservations saying that the government did not implement his order to clear the protest by 10am Saturday despite his clear-cut directions to the local administration.
The deputy attorney general informed the court that the political leadership was pursuing dialogues with the religious group protesting over changes in the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat clause from the previous Election Bill.
Justice Siddiqui observed the sit-in had partially paralysed civic life in parts of the twin cities, he reiterated that the court could not ignore rights of 8 million people. He said the law and order situation came about due to the incompetence of the Islamabad administration.
When asked about the proceedings of the talk between the protestors and government, the deputy attorney general said he could not provide details in an open court, to which Justice Siddiqui replied that the deputy attorney general will have to say everything in open court.
The justice said he already knew what the government’s reply would be. “All you will say is that the demonstrators are armed,” he said. “If that is the case then address the nation and inform them that you are unable to fulfill your duties.”
The judge said that he will issue a ‘contempt of court’ order in this regard and ordered the interior ministry’s top officials to be present in court today.
The minister, taking sole responsibility for the failure to end the sit-in, said he wants to resolve the matter peacefully and asked the court for more time.
Upon hearing the interior minister’s request, Justice Siddiqui adjourned the hearing until Thursday.
The court also issued show-cause notices for contempt of court to the interior secretary, chief commissioner and Islamabad inspector general.
“I believe we’ll be able to bring the protesters to our side,” said Iqbal after the hearing.
Commuters in the twin cities continue to face hardship as the protest sit-in at Faizabad Interchange, linking the main Islamabad-Rawalpindi route, by religious parties enters its fifteenth day today.
Sources said the daily deployment of police and paramilitary personnel is costing the government Rs5 million every day.
Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has already called an emergency meeting of religious scholars belonging to all schools of thought over the ongoing protest at 3pm today.
The consultative meeting, to be held at the Religious Affairs Ministry, is the latest effort on behalf of the government to bring the protest to a peaceful end.
Sources said the meeting will have a single-point agenda: how to resolve the crisis in the capital.
Iqbal, Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq and State Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnaat have previously met a number of protest leaders in view of reaching a breakthrough to end the sit-in.
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