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November 24 (UPI) – The Pakistani police have taken the leader of the far-right Islamist movement, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, and several hundred of his supporters in "pre-trial detention," authorities said on Saturday.
According to the authorities, the crackdown began on Friday and continued on Saturday in Punjab province, the country's most populous province, where the far-right party is based, according to Voice of America.
Prime Minister Imran Khan's government ordered the arrests after the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party called for more protests in Punjab on Sunday, CNN reported.
They protest against the acquittal by the Supreme Court of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who had spent nearly eight years on death row for blasphemy in a dispute with a group of people. women around a glass of water.
After the acquittal of Bibi at the end of last month, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik protested in Islamabad and Lahore.
The TLP leaders had threatened the judges who had freed Bibi. In addition, they sentenced Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistani army chief for their agreement with the court and the Christian woman.
Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, posted on Twitter the government had tried to convince the intransigent not to protest "but they refused all offers and began to provoke violence". The "law will follow its course and it can not be left to individuals," he tweeted.
Bibi is hiding in Pakistan following calls for his death and some Western countries have offered him asylum. Bibi can travel to any country once the judicial process is over, the government said.
TLP officials said the police crackdown was intended to dissuade them from demonstrating against the acquittal.
But Chaudhry denied that.
"Khadim Hussain Rizvi was remanded into police custody and transferred to a guest house," Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, said on Twitter. "They insisted on coming to Rwp [Rawalpindi] refuse (proposal for an alternative arrangement: it is about preserving public life, property and good order, and must do nothing with the Asia Bibi affair. "
Shehbaz Gill, a spokesman for the Punjab government, said the arrests were aimed at preventing protests for fear of public safety. He pointed out the last time protesters attacked public property and burned cars.
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