Pak deal: Radical released from jail

Lahore: Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was on Thursday released from the jail, weeks after Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government entered into a ‘secret agreement’ with the radical Islamist party which was involved in recent deadly clashes with the police. Rizvi, who was languishing at Kot Lakhpat jail since his arrest on April 12 under terrorism charges, is facing over 100 FIRs under terrorism and murder, attempted murder and other cases.

“The Punjab government withdrew its reference before the federal review board leading to the release of Rizvi,” a senior official of the Punjab government told PTI. In fact, the Punjab province government faciliated his release, he added. Thousands of TLP workers and supporters welcomed Rizvi at the party headquarters at Yateem Khana Chowk Lahore where he was brought in a procession. Last week, the Punjab government removed the name of Rizvi from the terrorism list, succumbing to pressure from the radical Islamist party. Under the last month’s ‘secret agreement,’ the federal government had lifted the ban on the TLP, citing in the larger national interest.Early this month, thousands of TLP members ended their over week-long sit-in in Punjab province after the Imran Khan-led government accepted some demands of the radical outfit. The government had also released over 1,200 TLP workers arrested during the clashes with the police in Lahore last month