Protests not ended, just temporarily suspended: Rizvi

Firebrand religious cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi said on Saturday that the nationwide protest of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is not concluded yet, warning that it was only suspended after the agreement with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

Taking to Twitter, the TLP chief wrote, “We have not finished protest but [only] suspended it till the hearing of review petition.”

We have not finished protest but suspended it till the hearing of review petition.If Asia case is not heard in the light of Sharia,we have every right to resume our peaceful protest. In the meanwhile, Asia's name must remain on ECL & any attempt2transport her abroad be avoided.

— Khadim Hussain Rizvi (@KhadimRizviReal) November 3, 2018

Rizvi made it clear that the TLP will await the fulfilment of federal government’s ‘promise’ of taking steps to put the name of Aasiya Bibi – a Christian woman acquitted by the Supreme Court of blasphemy charge – on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Rizvi’s tweet suggested that the far-right religious party will resume its countrywide protest if their demands are not met in the given time frame.

“If Aasiya case is not heard in the light of Sharia, we have every right to resume our peaceful protest,” he said.

The influential cleric also warned the government against any attempts of transporting Aasiya abroad. He said, “In the meanwhile, Aasiya’s name must remain on ECL and any attempt to transport her abroad be avoided.”

In a separate tweet, Rizvi said, “Islam is our existence, and prophet’s love ingrained in our souls. As soul is indestructible so is our love for the prophet. Our spirit, our resolve and our vision to make Pakistan a great self-honouring Islamic welfare state is as lively as ever.”

Islam is our existence, and prophet's love ingrained in our souls. As soul is indestructible so is our love for the prophet. Our spirit, our resolve and our vision to make Pakistan a great self honouring Islamic welfare state is as lively as ever.

— Khadim Hussain Rizvi (@KhadimRizviReal) November 3, 2018