The Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) on Friday ended its sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange connecting Islamabad with Rawalpindi after the federal government assured the protesters of increasing efforts to help Palestinians under siege in Gaza.
Last week, the TLP set up camp at Faizabad and vowed the sit-in would continue until the government officially boycotts all Israeli products; sends food and medical aid to Palestinians; and declares Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “terrorist.”
In a joint press conference, representatives of the TLP and the federal government, including Adviser to the P.M. Rana Sanaullah and Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, said the party’s decision was the resul of successful negotiations. “The federal government will continue and boost its efforts to help the Muslims of Palestine and the TLP people will assist the government for the purpose,” said Sanaullah, adding the government had pledged to transport a shipment of goods comprising fruits and medicines of over 1,000 tons to Palestine before July 31.
“The Israeli P.M. is committing war crimes in his personal capacity,” he continued, noting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had condemned Israeli atrocities in Palestine during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held earlier this month in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana. The government would continue its condemnation of Israeli abuses, vowed the adviser.
“Netanyahu is a terrorist who has perpetrated war crimes,” he said, and urged the global community to take the Israeli P.M. to task. He similarly urged global leaders to play their due role in the resolution of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Palestine.
Additionally, said Sanaullah, the government had decided to form a committee to ascertain what products or companies, if any, were distributing Israeli products in Pakistan, adding the government would officially boycott these. He also announced that the government had agreed with the TLP to accelerate efforts for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, who is imprisoned in the U.S. as a terrorist.
The end to the weeklong sit-in comes with significant relief for commuters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, who had suffered hours-long traffic snarls that had severely hampered everyday life.