Confusion over Saad Rizvi’s release
After the successful negotiations between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Tuesday morning after sehri, rumours of TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi’s release from Kot Lakhpat Jail started doing the rounds on the media as well as social media. Public relations officer of the Punjab prisons department, Attiq Ahmed, confirmed Rizvi’s release to Dawn. Some other media outlets reported the same.
Punjab’s provincial Minister for Prisons Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan, however, denied these reports. In a statement released to the media, Chohan said that this is not true. He said that Rizvi’s release can only be done after proper procedures are followed.
Banned TLP sources also denied Rizvi’s release. They say that documentation is being processed in this regard.
Saad Rizvi was arrested on April 12 after he planned protests following the April 20 deadline. His arrest was a pre-emptive measure in order to maintain law and order. Protests erupted across the country after Rizvi’s arrest. TLP has demanded that Rizvi be released.