The  Imran Khan government claimed on Sunday late night that it had  signed a secret agreement  with the proscribed radical militant group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in a bid to end the protests that paralyzed parts of the country. Details of the deal  were not explicitly shared with the public by either side.

But a few hours after signing a peace agreement with the Pakistani government, the TLP on Monday refused to call off its two week-long protest until the release of its chief Saad Rizvi, who has been in jail since April for inciting violence against the state. The TLP leaders said that the second meeting of the steering committee on the implementation of the agreement would be held Monday and till then the sit-in will continue. Another leader told the Pakistani media that thousands of protesters, who are currently camped in Wazirabad, a city some 190 kilometers from the federal capital, will stay put in a park in the city until the government meets at least half of their demands agreed in the peace deal. But both sides have refused to disclose the details of the agreement.

“This dharna (sit-in) will be called off completely after the release of our chief Saad Rizvi,” Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, TLP's chief negotiator, told the Pakistani media adding that the word “proscribed” will be removed by the government and  the agreement will be implemented  in letter and spirit. Otherwise “we will come back with full might,” cleric Rehman warned.

Meanwhile, Pakistani observers have termed the agreement as yet another instance of the Imran Khan government’s capitulation to the TLP, saying that the government first termed the group a militant organisation and then proceeded to reach an agreement with it.

“What’s worse than capitulation or an agreement with protesters the government had declared ‘militant’ and had ‘Indian connections’ because the state couldn’t establish its writ?” , commented Pakistani journalist Amber Rahim Shamsi in her post.

What’s worse than capitulation or an agreement with protesters the government had declared “militant” and had “Indian connections” because the state couldn’t establish its writ? Secrecy. As if it had something to hide. #tlp

— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) October 31, 2021

Another journalist Muzamal Suharwardy wrote on Twitter: ”Once again TLP has won .

Government unable to even tell details of agreement.

Establishment has once again displayed they are inevitable. 

Imran Khan surrendered to a lowest level”

Once again TLP has won .
Government unable to even tell details of agreement.
Establishment has once again displayed they are inevitable.
IK surrendered to a lowest level

— Muzamal Suharwardy (@M_Suharwardy) October 31, 2021

Taking a dig at Imran Khan’s statement that no one will be allowed to challenge the state’s writ, Pakistani journalist Murtaza Solangi said in his post: “Proscription of TLP ends. Saad Rizvi will be a free man. Frozen accounts will be restored. Fourth Schedule restriction will end. Arrested will be freed. Cases will be withdrawn. However, the writ of the state is established.”

Proscription of TLP ends.
Saad Rizvi will be a free man.
Frozen accounts will be restored.
Fourth Schedule restriction will end.
Arrested will be freed.
Cases will be withdrawn.

However writ of the state is established.
😜

— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) October 31, 2021

The TLP was founded by Khadim Hussain Rizvi in 2015. Since then it has held seven violent protests in the country and each time, the government has entered into a verbal or written agreement with them.

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