2017 Faizabad sit-in

2017 Faizabad sit-in was organized by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). It started a protest on November 8, 2017, and set up camp at the Faizabad Interchange contesting changes in the Elections Bill 2017 in which the word oath changed to declaration. The protesters demanded the resignation of Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid to "protect the identity of the country."[3][4][5]

2017 Faizabad sit-in
Police clash with protesters, 25 November 2017.
Date8 November 2017 – 18 December 2017
Location
Faizabad Interchange
Caused byChanges made to the Elections Bill 2017 as to the oath required for parliamentarians in the belief of finality of prophethood of Muhammad[1]
GoalsRestoration of Finality of the Prophethood bill
Resignation of Zahid Hamid
MethodsSit-in
StatusResignation of Zahid Hamid
Finality of the Prophethood law restored as it was before the amendment
Agreement between the military and TLYRA on behalf of the Government of Pakistan
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Death(s)6+[2]
Injuries200+[2]
Other protests

Tehreek-e-Labbaik's objective was achieved as the Pakistani law minister Zahid Hamid stepped down on 27 November 2017 culminating in an end to the protests that continued for 20 days without harm until, despite all the warnings given out by various religious groups about the sensitivity of the matter, because of the violence and the disturbance caused by the protesters the government was forced to use force against the protestors.[6][7]

Demands

They demanded that the government identify and punish those persons responsible for the change of wording in the declaration of the prophethood of Muhammad in the election laws and the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid over accusations of removing the clause.[8][9][10]

Negotiations

The negotiations didn't start until after a week of protest as the oppositions and people started to condemn governments policy of ignoring the protesters. Several bilateral talks ended in failure as the protesters were steadfast on their demand of resignation of law minister. Some of the delegations that went on behalf of government also called the demands of the protesters to be just.

Issue behind protest

According to the government version, it was an oversight in the Election Bill 2017 (one of the forms, on the subject relating one's belief in the finality of prophethood of Muhammad, substituting the phrase “I solemnly swear” with “I believe”). The National Assembly of Pakistan claimed it as a “clerical error” and later restored the original clause in the Election Act related to the finality of the prophethood in an oath that was turned into a religious and political controversy. However, the government failed to satisfy the protesting clerics.[11][12]

Internet blocking and media blackouts

On 25 November 2017, the NetBlocks internet shutdown observatory and Digital Rights Foundation identified mass-scale blocking of social media and content-sharing websites YouTube, Twitter and Facebook throughout Pakistan.[13][14][15] Transmission of TV news channels were put off-air by PEMRA as a strategy of operation against sit-in protesters at Faizabad interchange, which immediately ignited as a countrywide demonstrations. Pakistan Broadcasters Association condemned the government's unilateral shut down of news channels on 25 November 2017. However, transmission of news channels were restored by PEMRA in the afternoon of 26 November 2017 and the PTA was instructed to lift its ban over social media websites.[16]

Reactions
Clash with police, 25 November 2017.

On 25 November 2017, police launched an operation using tear gas and water canons to clear the area where Tehreek-e-Labaik protesters had camped out for the last 20 days as they have blocked the main routes into the capital of Islamabad,[17] after the police, the government called the army to control the law and order situation in the federal capital (Islamabad).[18][19][20][21] The protest took place in other parts of the country, including both rural and urban areas. The government faced strong reactions by general public and a large numbers of protestors blocked the national highways throughout the country. Police was withdrawn from most of cities to avoid clashes. This crackdown also sparked outraged against the ruling party and many mob attacks took place on homes of Members of PML(N) causing them to flee from their homes. Many more protesters died during clashes in Karachi and outskirts of Lahore. Sit in's were held until the leadership at Faizabad asked them to disperse after the agreement. The crowds dispersed peacefully. Head of the Moon Sighting Council Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman strongly condemned the action of the government. Pakistani politician Imran Khan called for the protests to remain peaceful, while not explicitly supporting or opposing the goals of Tehreek-e-Labbaik.[22] Controversy came about on Pakistani social media after footage leaked showing a senior Pakistani military official handling out money and encouraging the protesters.[23][24][25]

Supreme Court case

On 21 November 2017, the Supreme Court of Pakistan initiated a suo motu case pertaining to the sit-in. On 22 November 2018, a two-judge Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mushir Alam reserved its judgement on the case. On 6 February 2019, the Supreme Court issued the 43-page judgment authored by Justice Isa.[26]

The written verdict stated that the person issuing an edict or fatwa, which harms another or puts another in harm's way, ‘must be criminally prosecuted under the Pakistan Penal Code, the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 or the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016’. The top court further stated in the verdict that Inter-Services Intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence, and the Inter-Services Public Relations must not exceed their respective mandates. “All intelligence agencies do not have the authority to interfere with broadcasts and publications, in the management of broadcasters/publishers and in the distribution of newspapers.”[27]

"The Constitution emphatically prohibits members of the armed forces from engaging in any kind of political activity, which includes supporting a political party, faction, or individual. The Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defence and the respective chiefs of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force are directed to initiate action against the personnel under their command who are found to have violated their oath," the court said.[28]

References
  1. "Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad". BBC News. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  2. Abbas, Nosheen; Rasmussen, Sune Engel (27 November 2017). "Pakistani law minister quits after weeks of anti-blasphemy protests". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  3. "Pasroor: Law Minister Zahid Hamid's house attacked". www.thenews.com.pk.
  4. "Religious activists attack Law Minister Zahid Hamid's house, injure PML-N MNA Javed Latif". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 25 November 2017.
  5. "Enraged-protestors-attack-residence-of-Law-Minister-Zahid-Hamid". dunyanews.tv.
  6. Rasmussen, Nosheen Abbas Sune Engel (27 November 2017). "Pakistani law minister quits after weeks of anti-blasphemy protests". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  7. "Faizabad sit-in ends as army brokers deal". Dawn. 28 November 2017.
  8. "Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (SAW) protest continue". timesofislamabad.com. 9 November 2017.
  9. "Govt tells NA: No change in oath avowing Khatm-e-Nabuwwat". tribune.com.pk. 4 October 2017.
  10. "Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad". BBC News. 25 November 2017.
  11. Professor D. Suba Chandran (17 November 2017). "The TLY paralyses Islamabad and Rawalpindi: Rise of the Right, or the use of it?". Pakistan Reader. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  12. Zahid Hussain (15 November 2017). "The capital under siege". Dawn. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  13. "DRF and NetBlocks find blanket and nation-wide ban on social media in Pakistan and demand it to be lifted immediately". Digital Rights Foundation. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  14. "Activists assail blanket ban on social media". The Nation. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  15. "All you need to know about nation-wide internet disruptions during dharna". www.samaa.tv. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  16. Web Desk (26 November 2017). "PBA strongly condemns closure of news channels". Dunya News tv. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  17. "Islamist Protest Spreads as Pakistan Tries to End It". www.voanews.com. 25 November 2017.
  18. "Pakistan government calls in army after police, Islamists clash". in.reuters.com. 3 July 2023.
  19. Masood, Salman (25 November 2017). "Pakistan Calls On Army to Help Restore Order After Violent Clashes in Islamabad". www.nytimes.com.
  20. "Army called in to restore peace after cop martyred, over 200 hurt in Islamabad clashes". www.thenews.com.pk.
  21. "Pakistan calls in army to end anti-blasphemy protests". www.aljazeera.com.
  22. Sarfraz Ali (25 November 2017). "Islamabad sit-in: Imran Khan requests protesters to remain peaceful". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  23. M Ilyas Khan (28 November 2017). "Why was Pakistan general giving money to protesters?". BBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  24. "Sharif asks why Rangers gave money to TLP protestors". www.tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  25. "Faizabad sit-in ends as army brokers deal". www.dawn.com. Dawn. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  26. "SC issues detailed verdict in Faizabad Dharna case". www.thenews.com.pk.
  27. Mahmood, Aisha (6 February 2019). "Faizabad sit-in verdict: SC says anyone whose fatwas harms others must be prosecuted". Brecorder.
  28. "Faizabad sit-in: SC directs govt, LEAs, and intelligence agencies to operate within mandate". DAWN.COM. 6 February 2019.
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