ISLAMABAD - Civil and military leadership huddle on Sunday decided to keep the armed forces deployment for security of sensitive installations and overall security vigil in federal capital, while negotiations with protesters would be given preference on use of force.

It was further agreed in the meeting, which was held under the chair of the prime minister and also attended among others by Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, that the government would engage the protesters in dialogue and peacefully resolve the issue.

It was further agreed that civil law enforcement agencies would deal with the protesters and its overall control would be given to the Rangers.

The meeting further decided to immediately lift ban on the transmission of private television channels as the purpose for which these channels were made off-air became counterproductive and the violence triggered to other parts of the country as well.

Sources in the ruling party informed The Nation that the army chief also held one-on-one meeting with the prime minister, besides attending the high-level security meeting, advised him to tackle the issue peacefully, and avoid use of force as it would further aggravate the situation.

Besides the prime minister and the chief of army staff, the security huddle was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, ISI DG Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar and other high-ranking officials.

At the outset of the meeting, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal briefed participants on the details of the negotiations and later launching of operation against the protesters of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR).

After threadbare deliberations it was finally decided that the army would fulfil its constitutional responsibilities under Article 245 of the Constitution and provide security to the sensitive installations in the federal capital, but the army would not be used for dispersing the protesters as it would breach the relation of trust between the army and the people of Pakistan.

It was further decided that the number of armed forces personnel already deployed in the federal capital would not be increased.

It was further decided that civil law enforcement agencies would be used to tackle the protesters, and it was further decided that the Rangers would be given the full charge of dealing with the protesters and later after the meeting, a formal notification was also issued in this connection.

It was further agreed upon in the meeting that those found guilty in tampering with the declaration for elected representatives regarding finality of Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) should be punished as it was the only way to pacify the tension, which still has the potential of turning violent and engulfing other parts of the country.

In the meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi, Gen Bajwa assured him that the armed forces would dispense their responsibilities under the Constitution but made it clear that the army would not use force against the general public, which would tarnish the trust of the general public in the armed forces of the country.

The army chief reiterated his point that the matter should be resolved through negotiations with protesters as mishandling of the situation could trigger riots and disturbances in other parts of the country.

Sources informed The Nation that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also had separate meeting with the chief of army staff and it was decided that the persons who deliberately or erroneously committed the mistake of introducing changes in the declaration for candidates on finality of prophethood should be brought to book as this would help dilute tension.

The sources in the PML-N confirmed that the government was contemplating to make Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee report on the matter public and remove the persons involved in any way in this mishandling of the declaration form, from their positions.

The protesters of TLYR who were staging sit-in at Faizabad Interchange for the past 20 days have been demanding the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, and making of the inquiry report of Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee public.

The government has flatly refused to accept the protesters demand, and finally used force to disperse the protesters but failed in getting the interchange cleared.