Saad Hussain Rizvi, the chief of the Tahreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a radical Islamist group responsible for recent violent protests in Pakistan, was released on Tuesday following the negotiations between the government and the group that started earlier this week.  Rizvi was arrested around a week ago after he had threatened to launch protests if the government failed to expel the French envoy from the country. However, following his arrests, violent protests rocked major cities of the country. 

A report in Dawn confirmed his release citing multiple sources from both sides, the government as well as the TLP. He is expected to make a speech in Lahore later this evening. 

The release came two days after the Punjab government opened talks with the group after some supporters of the group on Sunday took 11 police personnel hostage in Lahore. Earlier on Monday, the group released all police personnel.

Significantly, the government also agreed to a key demand of the TLP:  a resolution in the national assembly on the expulsion of the French envoy. However, there is no clarity as of now if the ban--that the government had imposed on it last week--would be removed. 

Rizvi's release epitomizes the kind of hold Islamists have over the country's body politic and, despite brave rhetoric, how the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan have little option but to capitulate to the Islamists, sections of whom are backed by the powerful military. (SAM)