ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that the protesters staging a sit-in at the Faizabad interchange were not withdrawing the demand regarding the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid.
Addressing a ceremony in the capital, the minister reiterated that efforts were underway to resolve the issue peacefully and avoid bloodshed.
He added that with an operation, there’s no guarantee that bloodshed will not happen and a repeat of Model Town or Lal Masjid will not occur.
‘One option is a security operation, as the interior minister I can order an operation and clear the space in a matter of three hours,’ said Iqbal.
The lawmaker asserted that he was not the interior minister of Faizabad Interchange and his authority applied to all of Pakistan so he had to consider the overall peace of the country.
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Elaborating on the measures taken to resolve the crisis plaguing the twin cities for 18 days, Iqbal said multiple rounds of negotiations have taken place at various levels.
He confirmed that the religious groups were demanding the resignation of Law Minister but hastened to add that Zahid Hamid will not resign due to the ego and stubbornness of certain people.
‘Only the parliament can demand the law minister’s resignation’ he asserted.
