Pakistan: Islamist protesters to end Faizabad sit-in November 27 /update 7

Event

The Tehreek-i-Labaik (TLY) Islamist party will reportedly end its sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange in Islamabad and other nationwide protests on Monday, November 27. TLY leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi reportedly called off nationwide protests and sit-ins on Monday after Pakistan's law minister, Zahid Hamid, tendered his resignation - the Islamists' key demand - on Sunday night (local time). Rizvi also called for businesses that had closed in a related strike to resume operations.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accepted Hamid's resignation on Monday, according to local media sources; the Faizabad Interchange protesters are expected to completely disperse from the area within hours following Abbasi's acceptance of Hamid's resignation. However, despite the de-escalation of the protests, lingering related traffic disruptions remain as of Monday evening, particularly on thoroughfares between Islamabad and Lahore. Islamist protests, and consequent traffic disruptions, are expected to abate in Pakistan in the coming hours.

Context

At least two people died and over 250 people were injured on Saturday, November 25, after police forcibly removed members of religious parties holding a sit-in at Islamabad's Faizabad Interchange. Smaller protests broke out in Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Lahore, causing officials to close the road from Lahore to prevent demonstrators from joining the larger protests in Islamabad. Crowds continued to gather in Islamabad on the morning of Sunday, November 26, as the government called on the army to restore order in the capital. Protesters reportedly gathered at Faizabad Interchange, Kachnar Park, Sohan, and Taramri Chowk. Communications and social media disruptions were reported throughout the country, and traffic disruptions were reported in major cities, particularly in Islamabad and Lahore.

The Faizabad Interchange, which connects Islamabad with nearby Rawalpindi, was occupied by supporters of several Islamist parties for roughly three weeks. Officials placed shipping containers on adjacent roads to contain the protesters, resulting in significant traffic disruptions within and around Islamabad. The protests were organized to demand the removal of Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid, who had made several controversial statements regarding Islam that had angered hardline Islamist groups.

Large-scale religious violence is not unheard of in Islamabad; in 2007, clashes between supporters of fundamentalist preachers and Pakistani authorities resulted in over 100 deaths.

Advice

Individuals in Pakistan are advised to closely monitor the situation and to avoid any gatherings due to the risk of associated violence. Despite an expected return to normalcy, residual transportation disruptions should continue to be anticipated in Islamabad, Lahore, and other cities in the coming hours.