LAHORE - The PML-N government has decided not to restrict protests against the execution of Mumtaz Qadri however it has drawn a red line to keep the protesters from going berserk.

Under instructions of the government, administration and the law enforcement agencies at every tier are keeping a close eye on protests and so far they are satisfied over the prevailing circumstances.

Sources in the official quarters appreciate success of keeping situation under control mainly due to the media ban on airing reports on Mumtaz Qadri’s execution which otherwise could have attracted overwhelmingly strong reaction at the public level.

Sources say the government had beforehand calculated the situation taking shape after execution of Mumtaz Qadri. The intelligence reports prepared by the agencies at various levels, helped the government at the central and the Punjab to work out strategy for the post-execution scenario. Sources say the sections which were likely to become troublesome for the government in that situation had been assessed as to the extent they could react and a strategy as such was evolved to keep them in limits through direct and indirect interaction with the authorities.

Sources say the crucial phase on the day of Mumtaz Qadri burial has been passed away peacefully although tens of thousands had reportedly attended his funeral prayers in Rawalpindi. On his funeral prayers in absentia, sources say, different religious parties have given call for observing black day on Friday against the execution and authorities hope the day will also pass by peacefully while things becoming calm in a couple of following days.

Sources say the situation is being monitored so far and higher authorities at federal and provincial levels are being kept informed about the same. They say no instructions have been passed to stop people from taking out the rallies and processions but within the means of law. No section 144 has so far been imposed nor public routes have been barricaded anywhere while the administration in every district has been directed to keep their vigil, they added.

On execution JUI-F, JI, Milli Yakjehti Council, Pakistan Sunni Tehrik, Pakistan Sunni Council, Jamiat Ulema Pakistan and others had expressed resentment but they did not devise a collective strategy to carry forward the protests. At present general impression is of individual reaction of the parties and not a combined line of action on their part. In the form of MYC, parties of different schools of thought have found a joint platform but their leaders, on contact, have not told openly and decisively their protest plan. Sources further say that PML-N has, within the party, put no bar on their legislators to say word in support of Qadri as a matter of keeping the brailvey vote bank cool and in the folds. For that matter, a party legislator and Ghaddi Nasheen on his letter head asked his followers to offer dua for Qadri as it suited his electorate.

Qadri, a policeman of Elite Force, was awarded death penalty by a special anti-terrorism court for killing of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer in 2011 to give vent to his fury over the remarks the latter passed on the application of blasphemy law to minority woman accused of violating the same.