KARACHI: Chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Tuesday that among various options being entertained by the opposition in its anti-government ‘Azadi March’ campaign is the “resignation from assemblies” by opposition lawmakers.

In a press briefing to foreign media outlets, the Maulana said that the JUI-F would not follow the “126-day model” of protest and “will not tire its workers by having them sit indefinitely on some open ground”, according to Dawn.com.

“If we are able to reach Islamabad, our action plan will be different and if we are prevented from doing so, it will take a different direction,” he said, adding, “It will then take the form of a ‘fill the jails’ movement”.

The JUI-F chief, however, clarified that his party will not clash with any state institution. “Our fight will be carried out within the scope of the limits outlined within the Constitution.”

The JUI-F chief remarked that the country’s institutions “should remain non-partisan”. “No state institution should ever blindly lend their support to the government.”

“We do not wish to clash with institutions which is why we call upon them to reject the notion that the government has their backing,” he said.

The Maulana said that the government had “failed at every level” and saw no option but for fresh elections to put the country back on a democratic path.

Speaking of his anti-government march, the JUI-F chief said: “The ‘Azadi March’ is neither a sit-in nor a lockdown but a movement which will continue till the incumbent government is brought down.”

A majority of opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, have decided to answer JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s call to band together and march against the government on Oct 31.

The opposition had previously refused to come to the table for talks with the government and had voiced a single demand: the resignation of the prime minister. It had said that no talks can take place before the premier steps down.

In what is being viewed as a softening of JUI-F’s stance on the matter, following a meeting of the opposition’s Rabar Committee on Monday, it was announced that talks can be considered if the government allows the opposition to hold a “peaceful march” in the capital on Oct 27.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2019