In an exclusive interview with a private news channel, chief cleric of Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TYL) Khadim Hussain Rizvi said the Pakistan Army had Zahid Hamid resign from his post of law minister.
“Our party held negotiations with officials of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) who said ask whatever you want to,” Khadim said. He added that the civil government had no role in resolving the stand-off.
“No civilian government official was here for the talks,” he said, adding that the sign on the agreement by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was taken by the army men as well.
The 21-day-long sit-in at a busy traffic interchange of the federal capital finally ended on November 27 after the government acceded to the demands of a previously obscure religious group in a deal some commentators believe might set a dangerous precedent.
Scores of Tehreek-e-Labbaik supporters had gathered at the Faizabad Interchange since November 6, demanding the resignation of the federal law minister who they blamed for a hastily-abandoned change in the oath of elected representatives.
Khadim Hussain Rizvi told a crowd of around 2,500 supporters that the sit-in was being called off on the assurance of the army chief.