JUIF says anti government march has enough political support to proceed

LAHORE: A senior leader of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) party said on Tuesday the anti-government “Azadi March” would proceed as scheduled, adding that all opposition factions, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), would join the movement.
“The PML-N supreme leader, Nawaz Sharif, has promised that his party will be in the forefront of the march to rid the country of its inefficient government,” Hafiz Hamdullah Saboor told Arab News.
“We also enjoy the support of other opposition groups, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP),” he added. “No matter what, we are prepared to hit the road.”
A PML-N delegation, comprising senior party leaders, including Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Amir Muqam, met the JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in Peshawar on Sunday and shared with him the contents of Nawaz Sharif’s letter to the PML-N president, Shehbaz Sharif, narrating the details of the anti-government protest plan.
“A delegation of the PML-N visited Maulana Fazlur Rehman and conveyed the proposals of its party for the march. Our party will discuss those proposals in the central executive committee meeting and give our response to the PML-N on October 24,” JUI-F spokesman, Dr. Ghazanfar Aziz, told Arab News on Monday.
However, a press release issued by the JUI-F deputy secretary information, Saleemullah Qadri, said that a meeting between Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Shehbaz Sharif would be held much before that on October 18.
“The two leaders will meet in Lahore on October 18 to discuss the Azadi March. Maulana Fazlur Rehman will apprise Shehbaz Sharif on his meetings with the ANP and other political parties,” read the handout issued on Tuesday.
The JUI-F has so far claimed it is getting a positive response from different segments of society. Members of doctors’ association from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and traders’ association from different parts of Pakistan have visited the JUI-F leader and promised support, the party maintains.
The PPP, which is the second largest opposition party in the National Assembly, has also endorsed the movement and announced to participate in it.
“We fully support the Azadi March and will join it from all over the country. Our workers will be joining members of other opposition parties. Our leaders will also stand with Maulana Fazlur Rehman whenever and wherever he calls us,” PPP leader, Qamar Zaman Kaira, told Arab News on Tuesday.
The Punjab government has not yet finalized the strategy to deal with Azadi March.
“It is not clear yet what the protesters want or plan. Some say they will march from Sukkar to Islamabad, passing through the Punjab province, while other believe they will enter Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Punjab law minister Raja Basharat.
“The Punjab government is keeping a vigilant eye on the situation and will prepare a counter plan when required,” he added. “No one will be allowed to disturb the law and order in the province.”
On Monday, PML-N leaders met at the residence of its president, Shehbaz Sharif, to discuss the latest situation and develop the party’s strategy for the march.
“It has been decided that the PML-N will participate in the march. The decision regarding the sit-in has not been taken since it was not on the agenda,” Senator Abdul Qayyum said while taking to the media after the meeting.
It is not clear, though, if the party president, Shehbaz Sharif, will lead his workers or stay behind due to backache.

JUIF says anti government march has enough political support to proceed