New Delhi

Pakistani civil society is aghast at the ruling party’s Senator Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry welcoming Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi and hugging him in full public view.

Venting their anger and frustration on social media, the netizens are wondering why the PTI senator had to go out of his way to sing paeans of the man who is responsible for killing of several army and security men.  

Pakistani journalist Gul Bukhari released this video of the PTI senator hugging and presenting Saad Ahmed Rizvi a bouquet on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Twitter:

Ruling party leader Ijaz Chaudhary greeting terrorist Saad Rizvi who is responsible for the killings of innocent policemen and citizens. Pakistan govt/army struck deal with the terror group to target democratic parties. @FATFnews and @EU will be quite interested I’m sure. pic.twitter.com/gkfnHHHOTB

— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) November 20, 2021

Chaudhary told media persons that he had gone to meet  the TLP leader as a "gesture of goodwill" and to congratulate him on his release.

It may be recalled that TLP leader was released after the Imran khan government entered into a compromise with his organization that had jammed highways and taken up arms against the police and Rangers in its pursuit of imposing Shariah in Pakistan.

Rizvi was released from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail after the withdrawal of a reference filed in the Supreme Court's federal review board regarding his detention and the removal of his name from the list of terrorists. 

According to Dawn newspaper, Chaudhry said that he met the TLP chief as per his promise. "It is our responsibility to be in contact with the leadership that has a different past than the leadership of other political parties."

The PTI senator said it was the state's responsibility to have "pleasant" relations with all factions of the public to "avoid misunderstandings and ensure consensus, peace and calm".

"You will remember that when the agreement [between the government and the TLP] was reached, I had expressed satisfaction and prayed and wished that it got safely implemented."