The Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl has geared up its preparations to resume its campaign against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government from Lahore on March 19. JUI-F’s central secretary general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri announced and said that PTI had no justification to stay further in power. The JUI-F will organise the provincial workers’ convention in all four provinces and after it, a national-level ‘Constitution of Pakistan Conference’ would be held in Lahore on March 19.
As controversy regarding military’s role in Pakistan increases, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that “marches and dharnas are a political activity and the Pakistan Army, as a state institution, has nothing to do with politics”. In a television interview, he said that Pakistan Army had supported the then democratic government during the dharna staged by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2014.
Two major opposition parties — the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — have announced they would not become a part of the sit-in announced by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The leaders of the two parties said they had already told Maulana in categorical terms that they would only attend public meeting and would not support any sit-in.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a letter has called all members of the PML-N “to ensure that the Azadi March by Maulana Fazl ur Rehman is a success”. The letter, dated October 10, is addressed to his brother, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, and its contents were discussed with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. “This is the time to stand up,” he wrote.
The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) solicited permission from Islamabad’s administration to hold its planned ‘Azadi March’ on October 27 at D-Chowk. JUI-F’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced the anti government March to put an end to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rule last week. He also warned the government against creating any hurdles in its way of his march and requested the city’s administration to make security arrangements as required.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would not be able to use “religious card” against the government at the instruction of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). He manifested no fear of the JUI-F’s call for Islamabad lock down on 27th October while talking to a selected group of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf leaders. .
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) has announced to march on October 27 to oust the government. Rehman claimed that JUI-F delegations from across the country would join the “Azadi March” at Islamabad’s D-Chowk. Later, he added that this march is to get rid of PTI government which, according to him, “has destroyed the economy”.