Thousands rally in Pakistan
Why are the TLP supporters protesting?
The TLP has led an anti-France campaign for months, including calling for the ambassador to be expelled. In October, Pakistan s Parliament backed a resolution for the expulsion to take place by April 20.
The campaign came after France s president defended the
Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine for republishing cartoons of Islam s Prophet Muhammad, any act many adherents consider blasphemous.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday suggested the party hadn t been banned for its ideology, but rather its methods. Let me make clear to people here & abroad: Our govt only took action against TLP under our anti-terrorist law when they challenged the writ of the state and used street violence & attacking the public & law enforcers, Khan tweeted.
Fawad Chaudhry on Conflict Zone
Calls for Khan s resignation
Opposition parties on Thursday demanded that Khan step down from premiership after the Senate setback. Khan s party has rejected the calls. Imran Khan and his party have taken a unanimous decision to take a vote of confidence from Parliament to confirm he still has a majority (in lower house), Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told media.
Constitutional experts say the reason behind holding a vote of confidence for the premier is to determine which party members switched allegiances in the Senate elections, as, unlike the upper house election, National Assembly lawmakers cast their votes through an open ballot.
Nawaz Sharif has told a massive opposition rally that Pakistan's army chief and the head of the intelligence agency were behind his government's downfall. He also accused them of vote rigging and coercing the judiciary.