ISLAMABAD: (DNA) – The federal government might opt for ‘option b’ to disperse the protesters of a sit-in at Faizabad interchange before Eid Milad-un-Nabi as it is running short of options to handle the situation peacefully.

The protesters, who have brought routine life in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to a standstill for over two weeks, are demanding the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid for changing the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat clause.

The government wants to disperse the protestors before 12^th Rabbi-ul-Awwal, which falls on December 1 (Friday), over fears that more public will join the protest to commemorate the birth of Holy Prophet (PBUH), The Express Tribune has reliably learnt.

The matter was on top of the agenda during the parliamentary party meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Tuesday with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the chair, it is further learnt.

However, the meeting remained inconclusive over taking a decisive action.

The PML-N sources said party chief Nawaz Sharif would take final decision whether to use force to disperse the protestors after consulting Premier Abbasi.

The meeting between the two bigwigs was expected earlier on Monday but it could not take place as Sharif was in Changla Gali, Murree and PM Abbasi was in Karachi.

A source close to Sharif said the PML-N president was scheduled to review the matter on Monday but was advised by his aides to wait till Wednesday (today) as the ruling camp is desperate to reach some kind of agreement with the religious group even though the chances are bleak.

The source said Sharif postponed his visit to London to deal with the sit-in where protesters are not willing to budge an inch from their demand seeking resignation of the law minister.

The government would mull over using ‘calculated force’ to disperse the protestors from Faizabad ahead of Eid Milad-un-Nabi to prevent public participation in the protests in case there was no headway in dialogue, sources in the ruling camp said.

“If a significant number of people show up at the protest site on 12th Rabbi-ul-Awwal, anti-government sentiment will be fuelled, which will be a nightmare for us,” a PML-N senator said, requesting anonymity.