Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Friday said the government has not closed doors to talks with the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) but it has to enforce writ of the State at all cost.

He was talking to media after a two-hour meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) convened by Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the law and order situation across the country, especially emerging due to the protest by the proscribed organization. The meeting was attended by the top civil and military leadership, including all services and intelligence chiefs.

"We have to take care of people's lives and their properties. We wish the issues [with the TLP] will be resolved amicably," said Rasheed.

He added: "[Federal Minister for Religious Affairs] Noorul Haq Qadri and I will hold talks with the proscribed TLP. We are negotiating with the party's chief Saad Rizvi [as well]."

During the press conference Rasheed said, the TLP's long march was going on towards Islamabad. "The negotiations with the TLP and their march to the federal capital were going side by side," the interior minister said, adding the demonstrators have reached Ghakar Mandi city of Gujranwala.

As per orders of the Ministry of Interior, Rangers have been deployed in Punjab for 60 days. Rasheed further said the Punjab police have been made subordinate to Rangers and the latter have been authorized all the powers conferred to the former.

The prime minister is expected to address the nation in a day or two, said the interior minister.

It is pertinent to mention that after a meeting of cabinet on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad ruled out the possibility of talks with the proscribed TLP, saying the government would treat the outfit as militant organisation. He vowed the government would use full force to quell the group from reaching Islamabad in its long march.

The proscribed TLP was protesting against the custody of its chief and other party workers for more than a week and their procession was moving towards Islamabad. They demanded ouster of French ambassador over the issue of blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

During the clashes between the secuirty forces and the proscribed TLP, at least five police officers were killed and hundred others sustained injuries.