LAHORE: Expressing grief over the violent situation emerging in the Punjab capital after the government`s alleged failure to honour its commitment with a banned group about the expulsion of the French ambassador, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the situation.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, JI Emir Sirajul Haq said the government should revisit its decision to ban the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan as the law authorised only the Election Commission of Pakistan and courts to ban a political party.

`I appeal to the government to release all the detainees and try to resolve the issue throughdialogue. Police cannot be authorised to open direct fire on those who, in love for the Prophet (PBUH), are demanding the government fulfil its agreement and cut its diplomatic ties with France.

He told the journalists that he had contacted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid after the Yateem Khana Chowk Lahore tragedy and requested him to avoid using force against the demonstrators in the holy month of Ramazan. He said the situation was not different from what emerged during the Lal Masjid operation and there were reports of several deaths as a result of police firing on the demonstrators.

The senator said the state should act like amother and the use of force against a few emotional people was not a wise step. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the Yateem Khana Chowk violence.

The JI, he said, also convened an urgent meeting of the country`s leading scholars and Milli Yakjehti Council at Mansoora on Monday (today)to discuss the situation andhnd apeaceful way out. He said some western countries, particularly France, had been dishonouring the Prophet (PBUH), hurting feelings of over two billion Muslims across the globe and thus, he argued, the demand of Pakistani Muslims to cut ties with France was natural and justified. Staff Reporter