TAXILA: Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar remarked on Saturday that the protests must come to an end in order for the country to move forward.

While speaking to media in Taxila, he said continuous protests would allow just anyone to have their demands met, no matter how unreasonable. ?It is my humble appeal that if the country has to move forward, then protests must be stopped.?

He explained: "I am not against protests. Protests should be held as they are part of democracy. However, protests which affect daily life should not be held." 

Nisar also spoke about the violence which erupted due to the protest in Islamabad last month. He said that he maintains his stance that ?no one should be allowed to occupy Faizabad Interchange.? He reasoned that occupying the road will seal the way to both Rawalpindi and Islamabad.  

Countrywide sit-ins dissipate after govt, protesters reach agreement

The countrywide demonstrations resulted in at least one death and left dozens injured, besides the over 200 injuries in Islamabad

Following the voluntary resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid, the government and Faizabad protesters reached an agreement to end the 21-day-long sit-in in Islamabad.

"I don't engage in politics of violence, nor will I ever," said Nisar. As politicians, we are agents of peace, he added. 

When asked if the government will be able to complete its tenure, he remarked: "You should ask the government this, I am not in the government anymore."

Nisar was also asked if he maintains his stance on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz criticism of the Panama verdict, which led to the disqualification of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.  

"I am still steadfast in my stance. I believe we should not target the entire judiciary. Moreover, the army should also not be targetted for no good reason," he added.  

The former interior minister also refused to comment on a statement of Awami Muslim League Cheif Sheikh Rasheed. "This person changes his loyalty every minute, please stop giving importance to such people," he told the journalists.