[DAWN] Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri defended the government's act of entering into a deal with Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistain (TLP) leaders for ending their protest sit-ins over the Supreme Court verdict in Asia Bibi case.Speaking during the session, the minister, who was a signatory to the agreement, said the government had not used force to disperse the protesters as per the desire of the opposition parties.
He said Prime Minister Khan was constantly in touch with them from China and had also instructed them to resolve the matter peacefully.
He recalled that the previous government of the PML-N had also signed a deal with the same protesters (during the Faizabad sit-in), but it was signed after three weeks and after its law minister resigned. In contrast, he said, the PTI government had succeeded in reaching an agreement in three days and without any resignation.
Qadri stressed that the PTI-led government "will always defend Section 295-C of blasphemy laws".
He said the speech of Prime Minister Khan about the establishment of writ of the state in the country was a policy and it would be implemented during its five-year tenure.
"There is a need to formulate a long-term strategy to avoid such a situation [in the future]," the minister said.