Saad Hussain Rizvi released from jail, says party Spokesperson Mufti Abid
LAHORE, Nov 18 (SABAH): Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi was released from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore on Thursday, Jail Superintendent Ijaz Asghar confirmed to a private TV channel.
TLP spokesperson Mufti Abid also confirmed the development and told that Saad Rizvi had reached the party’s headquarters, Rehmatul Lil Alameen Mosque, where he was greeted by hundreds of the party’s jubilant workers and supporters.
The mosque will also host an urs to commemorate the death anniversary of the TLP chief’s father and the group’s founder, Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, from November 20-21.
As per videos and pictures shared, the TLP chief reached mosque Rehmatul-il-Aalimeen in Lahore shortly after his release. A large number of supporters had gathered outside the party headquarters to welcome Rizvi.
Rizvi was taken into custody on deputy commissioner Lahore’s directives in April shortly after the party announced countrywide protests.
The TLP chief has been released after a reference, filed in the Supreme Court’s federal review board for his detention, was withdrawn.
The TLP chief had been under detention since April 11. His release is said to be a part of the recent agreement reached between the government and the TLP following the party’s recent sit-in.
On October 31, the government announced that an agreement had been reached with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after the latest round of dialogue between the two parties.
The pact came after around two weeks of clashes left at least seven policemen dead and scores injured on both sides
The announcement was made at a news conference in Islamabad where Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan, prominent cleric Mufti Muneebur Rehman as well as TLP members Mufti Ghulam Abbas Faizi and Mufti Mohammad Ameer were present.
A week later, on November 7, the federal cabinet revoked its earlier decision of declaring the TLP a “proscribed” organisation under the country’s anti-terrorism law after it committed that it would abide by the Constitution and the laws of the country.
Four days later, Rizvi’s name was taken off the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 by the Punjab government.
According to the order, Rizvi was enlisted in the list on the “recommendations of the District Intelligence Committee, Lahore”. However, after the TLP was de-proscribed by the federal government, the name of Saad Rizvi was “deleted from the list of the 4th Schedule… with immediate effect”.