PTI’s parliamentary body to mull over ‘concessions’ today – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The federal government welcomed on Sunday the decision of the head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, to avoid marching towards D-Chowk in the sensitive or nearby red zone House of the Prime Minister and expressed the desire to meet all demands of opposition parties, except the resignation of the Prime Minister, through dialogue for the improvement of the country.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated that he would never grant a concession similar to the National Reconciliation Ordinance to leaders of opposition parties facing corruption cases.

"We are ready to save Maulana Sahib," said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Information, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, at a night press conference together with the Minister of Religious Affairs, Noorul Haq Qadri, when asked if The government would facilitate the return of protesters from Islamabad.

The government apparently adopted the carrot and stick policy; Dr. Awan, on the one hand, praised the decision of the head of the JUI-F, but on the other she criticized him for "defying the state's mandate" and "tarnishing the moderate and progressive face of the country by using a card religious and instigate seminary students against the Government. "

"The prime minister is determined to meet the democratic demands of the opposition through the dialogue process," he said, adding that Prime Minister Khan will chair a meeting of the parliamentary committee of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday. (today) to decide which concessions could be offered to the opposition.

Prime Minister's assistant praises Fazl's decision to avoid marching towards D-Chowk

“We welcome that Maulana Sahib has withdrawn her ultimatum to march towards D-Chowk. Come and sit with us if you want electoral and parliamentary reforms, but we will never let the state become hostage, ”he said.

Previously, the prime minister had tweeted: "The opposition only wants to hear three letters from me, NRO." But he added that granting any relief to opposition parties would amount to a betrayal of Pakistan. He promised that he would never pronounce those three letters, since it would amount to "treason with the country." He said the country could not get on the way to progress unless the "corrupt" opposition leaders were responsible.

However, Dr. Awan praised the leadership of the two main opposition parties, the Muslim League of Pakistan N (PML-N) and the Popular Party of Pakistan (PPP), for not participating in the sitting of the JUI- F and said: "Despite the political differences, both parties set a benchmark by rejecting Maulana's narrative."

He said that the Azadi march of the JUI-F had damaged the cause of Kashmir and the moderate emerging image of Pakistan internationally. He also criticized the head of the JUI-F for the personal attack on Prime Minister Khan. He regretted that the Maulana called the Prime Minister "an agent of Israel" and used the religious card to meet his [Maulana] designs

The Minister of Religious Affairs, Noorul Haq Qadri, also condemned the accusation against the prime minister of sponsoring the Ahmadi community and said he always supported Prime Minister Khan for his love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

"We are ready to meet the genuine demands of Maulana Sahib, but not the illogical ones," he said.

The minister said he was organizing an international conference on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and would also invite the head of the JUI-F.

Dr. Awan urged Maulana to convert the sitting JUI-F against the government in Mehfil-i-Milad. "Your [Maulana] he will receive applause from people in doing so, "he said.

Previously, authorities sealed the Islamabad Red Zone, which houses important state buildings and the Supreme Court, in addition to placing barricades and large containers on other roads.

More than 2,000 police officers, Rangers and FC staff had been deployed in the Red Zone and the Banigala area, where Prime Minister Khan lives in his private residence on top of a hill.

In addition, some 3,000 additional police officers were called from Lahore and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with water cannons and armored vehicles to strengthen security provisions.

With the latest addition, the number of police officers deployed in the federal capital has increased to 10,000. They are equipped with 10 armored personnel carriers and more than a dozen police vans and three water cannons.

Islamabad police and Pakistan rangers also held a flag march in the capital.

Sources said police had marked a four-layer security plan to stop protesters if they tried to move towards the sealed Red Zone.

Sanjrani-Haideri meeting

Meanwhile, Senate President Sadiq Sanjrani met with JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and discussed how problems between the opposition and the government could be resolved. The president of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, and the defense minister, Pervez Khattak, also contacted some opposition leaders in this regard.

Published on Dawn, November 4, 2019