JUI-F chief hints at prolonging protest sit-in – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A tense calm hangs over Islamabad while the 48-hour ultimatum given by the head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, to the prime minister for his resignation ends Sunday night (today), while Law enforcement personnel prepare. to comply with any eventuality in the event that protesters camping at the designated H-9 site violate the agreement.

While Maulana hinted on Saturday that there was no immediate plan to enter the Red Zone, he also made it clear that the protesters did not intend to return until Prime Minister Imran Khan resigned.

“Our people want to move on, but D-Chowk is not our destiny. This is a movement and will continue. There is no timeline, ”said the head of the JUI-F while speaking at the meeting on the third day of the anti-government protest in Islamabad.

PPP, PML-N advise against raising the bet amid tense calm in the capital

He suggested prolonging the sitting, claiming that more caravans were on their way from different parts of the country, as they were expected to join protesters in Islamabad on Sunday.

"How can we suspend the protest, when people are still arriving?" Said the head of the JUI-F while assuming the commitment of the participants that they would comply with the decision taken by their leadership that had "taken" them to the reality. meeting place

In describing the Imran government as a "security risk," the Maulana asked the rulers to resign without "testing our patience."

"We will remain in the arena until we get rid of the government," he said.

The head of JUI-F explained: "Our story is full of movements […] We have to make a decision for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. "He said he would be considering options to change from this place to another land, from there to another land and then to the next land until they got rid of the" illegitimate government. "

The Maulana said: “They (the rulers) should believe that their mandate over Pakistan is over. They are no longer the rulers of Pakistan. The writing is in our hand. Now we will manage the country. We will run the country peacefully. We will develop this country. We will restore the economy … this country no longer belongs to you. "

He commended the participants for maintaining a "complete discipline" during the Azadi march that had started from Karachi on October 27 and entered the federal capital on October 31.

"We do not want to make the situation worse. We have organized 15 million marches in nine months, which is sufficient evidence to show how organized we have been and how we maintain law and order," he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan issued instructions to the Ministry of Interior to prepare for any kind of situation in case protesters violate their agreement with the local administration while trying to move towards the delicate Red Zone of Islamabad.

The sources said law enforcement officials had already devised a plan to keep protesters confined in the designated H-9 location and not allow them to move to another location.

Rehbar committee meeting

Previously, members of the opposition Rehbar committee met at the residence of the JUI-F leader, Akram Durrani, and discussed possible scenarios and the latest offer of government talks.

In informing reporters about the committee meeting, Durrani said that all options, including resignations to assemblies, blocking and blocking of roads, were under consideration.

He said the leaders of the opposition parties agreed that the objective of the Azadi march was to have "the resignation of the prime minister" and "new elections without the supervision of the army."

The committee coordinator said that, being democratic, they were ready to talk with the government, but their representatives should not use "severe" language against their opponents.

The sources said that the PML-N and the PPP had advised the JUI-F leaders not to prolong the sit-in, as it could create a confrontational situation. They said that the PPP and the leaders of PML-N also opposed the idea of ​​resigning the assemblies.

Posted in Dawn, November 3, 2019