PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that government should resign before millions of people converge in Islamabad on October 31.

“Tender resignation and go home,” he said while addressing volunteers of Insarul Islam, the security branch of the party here on Sunday. He said that entire nation would observe October 27 as black day to express solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.

The JUI-F chief said that political parties, business community, traders and lawyers were on the same page against the “fake and puppet” government. He thanked political parties for supporting the march and claimed that entire nation would take part in the march.

JUI-F chief says entire nation will take part in Azadi March

Terming the incumbent government “security risk” for the state, he said that Pakistan’s economy was sinking. He said that small traders and industrialists had started protests across the country. He said that instead of creating job opportunities, government deprived around two million people of jobs. He added that industrial units stopped production due to policies of the government.

Mr Rehman said that marchers would remain peaceful and his sole purpose was removal of the “puppet” prime minister. He said that JUI-F adopted constitutional and democratic way for the removal of “fake government” and his workers would not take law in hand.

“We will teach them a lesson if hurdles are created to stop the marchers,” he warned and said that all state institutions should work within the constitutional framework.

“If institutions respect their oath and do not violate their constitutional limits then there will be no confrontation between citizens and the state machinery,” said the JUI-F chief. He added that state institutions should remain neutral and impartial during the protest movement.

He alleged that fake and puppet government had been imposed on the nation after stealing mandates of the people in July 25 general elections.

He claimed that people had foiled agenda of the rulers and they would be forced to resign.

He said that “big powers” had admitted that inefficient person had been installed as prime minister.

He condemned the statements of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, who had warned on many occasions that the provincial government would not let the JUI-F workers to enter Islamabad.

JUI-F provincial chief Maulana Attaur Rehman alleged that administration in different districts had started threatening party workers and administrators of seminaries to stop them from participating in Azadi March.

He said that institutions should not obey unlawful directives of the government. He added that Constitution and law allowed people to organise rallies to safeguard their rights.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman also called on senior leader of Awami National Party Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and discussed the prevailing political situation with him.

He said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority had placed ban on coverage of his party activities regarding the march. He said that government had also restricted freedom of expression and media was not allowed to perform its duty. He asked media to join Azadi March.

Ghulam Bilour said that his party supported the march and workers would fully participate in the rally. He said that ANP always struggled for supremacy of Constitution and strengthening democracy in the country.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2019