Authorities seek end to Islamabad protest within 48 hours

Pakistan Forward

ISLAMABAD -- Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged protesters in Islamabad to end their sit-in peacefully within 48 hours, Geo News reported Monday (November 20).

Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Minister of Law and Justice Zahid Hamid. They have camped for about 15 days on a flyover connecting Islamabad with Rawalpindi.

The demonstrators, members of the Tehreek-i-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah Pakistan and other religious groups, have accused Hamid of pushing through an amendment that altered some wording in the oath in which political candidates avow that the Prophet Muhammed was the last prophet.

The change was inadvertent, said the government, which quickly reversed it through another amendment in October.

Iqbal told reporters that the protesters have until November 23 (Thursday), reported the Daily Pakistan.

He made his remarks after appearing before the Islamabad High Court for failing to follow a court order to clear the sit-in by Saturday (November 18). Ahsan said that the government was avoiding action because of fear of bloodshed.

"I am hopeful that we will resolve the issue in 24-48 hours," he said, as quoted by Geo News.

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