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dpa
Islamabad
Pakistan’s parliament went into special session on Tuesday to discuss the possible expulsion of France’s ambassador, a move designed to appease a banned Islamist group behind recent violent protests.
A non-binding resolution seeking the discussion was put before the lower house National Assembly, as per a government promise to Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).
The row stems from comments by French President Emmanuel Macron last year defending freedom of speech. He made the comments in the wake of the murder of a teacher who was killed after he used caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed PBUH), considered offensive by many Muslims, in a lecture.
The resolution regretted Macron’s stance. It is expected to come up for a vote on Friday.
Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced that the TLP had agreed to end protests and, in return, the government would have a discussion on the expulsion of the French envoy and the release of TLP workers, including its chief.
TLP’s refusal to end protests until the expulsion of the French envoy pushed the government to conduct talks with the group, which was banned on April 15 under the country’s anti-terrorism laws.
At least six police officers were killed and more than 800 wounded in violent clashes starting last week. TLP said several workers of the group were also killed.
On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government shares the TLP’s goal of ending blasphemous incidents in the world, but added its approach was different. He noted that expelling an ambassador will not prevent such incidents from happening.
Islamabad
Pakistan’s parliament went into special session on Tuesday to discuss the possible expulsion of France’s ambassador, a move designed to appease a banned Islamist group behind recent violent protests.
A non-binding resolution seeking the discussion was put before the lower house National Assembly, as per a government promise to Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).
The row stems from comments by French President Emmanuel Macron last year defending freedom of speech. He made the comments in the wake of the murder of a teacher who was killed after he used caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed PBUH), considered offensive by many Muslims, in a lecture.
The resolution regretted Macron’s stance. It is expected to come up for a vote on Friday.
Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced that the TLP had agreed to end protests and, in return, the government would have a discussion on the expulsion of the French envoy and the release of TLP workers, including its chief.
TLP’s refusal to end protests until the expulsion of the French envoy pushed the government to conduct talks with the group, which was banned on April 15 under the country’s anti-terrorism laws.
At least six police officers were killed and more than 800 wounded in violent clashes starting last week. TLP said several workers of the group were also killed.
On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government shares the TLP’s goal of ending blasphemous incidents in the world, but added its approach was different. He noted that expelling an ambassador will not prevent such incidents from happening.
