'No retreating now,' says Fazl as JUI-F's Azadi March enters Punjab
The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)'s Azadi March — an anti-government movement calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan — entered Punjab on Monday evening, a party spokesperson told DawnNewsTV.
JUI-F Punjab chief Maulana Attiqueur Rehman welcomed the participants of the march as they reached Kot Sabzal town in Rahim Yar Khan district after travelling from Sukkur.
Earlier today, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman while addressing the marchers had said: "The war has been announced and now [the party] cannot retreat. We are moving forward with full confidence. We have to protect the Constitution, democracy and Pakistan because the incumbent government has put the survival of the country at risk."
"The Constitution has been made a joke in this country," he said, alleging that the prime minister has become a security risk. "He [Prime Minister Imran] has ruined the economy, and a country with a devastated economy can't survive. We approached the masses against him and took out 15 million marches and now we are able to help the people get rid of the government," the JUI-F chief said.
Rehman said that the government is restricting the media.
"When the fake prime minister talks to media, he says that he didn't impose any restriction. He should tell the nation under whose supervision the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), which has issued a letter restricting TV anchors, works."
PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro, Ali Akbar Gujjar of the PML-N, Allama Shah Owais Noorani of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUIP) and others also addressed the march.
The so-called Azadi March had set out on Sunday afternoon from Karachi's Sohrab Goth area towards Islamabad. Thousands of people, including seminary students, are participating in the march. In addition, convoys of political parties including the PPP, PML-N, Awami National Party (ANP) and others are also part of the march.
The marchers, who spent the night in Sukkur on Sunday, are scheduled to enter Islamabad on October 31.
During the journey to Sukkur they passed through many towns and cities of Sindh including Hyderabad, Sakrand, Nawabshah and Sanghar. However, there was a sudden change in the itinerary of JUI-F chief Rehman — who led the marchers from Karachi to Hyderabad — and instead of moving towards Sukkur with the marchers, he went to Larkana.
Rehman joined the marchers again today.
Fazl to announce ‘important decision’
Before the marchers began their journey from Karachi, leaders of the opposition parties supporting the anti-government march addressed them from a stage set up on a container.
They all called for the resignation of Prime Minister Imran and the holding of fresh elections in the country.
Rehman in his speech criticised the policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government and said that he would not budge from his demand for the prime minister’s resignation. He said he would announce an important decision after the march reached Islamabad.
He said his party hadn't accepted the PTI government as legitimate, terming it a product of a rigged election.
He said the Azadi March would remain within the parameters of the laws of the land.
Comments (47) Closed
Actually we don’t want you at all, so stop saying the masses are with you. You are a liability for a nation.
Sad news some politicians are putting theirs ego before theirs country.
Time wasters!
Religious parties are using these people for their evil purposes. Sad to see these people having no education no skills and nothing positive to think about. Just following these selfish people without using their brains. Really disturbing to watch these people with no future.
You mean retreat was an option till yesterday? What unending amusement.
What numbers do they have? It’s his last March so might as well enjoy it.
The million march has only about a thousand participants so far. Will it grow by Friday or fizzle out.
I think, this will be end of religious parties.
What a joke!
I want to turn everyone’s attention to all those people in the pic, that’s what people look like when they are lied to and misinformed.
It is amazing, so many people in Pakistan are ready to follow this Mullah and march several hundred miles. This Muaalah also accuses the Prime Minister's party to have gained majority to govern in a rigged election. It surprises me that so many people follow him.
What a joke - freedom March!!...It's laughable. Suddenly Democracy and constitution is in trouble. If the all previous government did their jobs the country would not be in this situation.
This guy and his followers need guidance
Why Molana Sahib does not tell us how he is going to improve this so called ruined economy?
Maulana and opposition are scared of honest Government. Maulana should resign and go back to masjid in his village be an Imam.
We are sickened by his statements and march. Maulana has ZERO value
Same anti Pakistan mullahs are again trying to destroy the country for self gains.
Participants of the march the so called leaders are nothing but self serving and greedy And rest do not know why they are marching. These are not the well wishers of Pakistan. They long for the NS government where there was no check for corruption or money laundering. Sincerely
Imran Khan should immediately resign and go for fresh fair election
Hold fresh elections. They will lose again. This time - with a huge margin.. instead of accepting defeat with grace, they have proved to be a stumbling block to progress. What kind of public representatives are they?
He should have been given a room in parliament lodges, problem solved.
More threats than any rational demands
With 2% vote bank , Maulana is starting revolution ! He is backed by disgruntled parties , PML(N) and PPP for their vested interests. Both parties want their imprisoned leaders out , free of corruption charges . There is no common ideology .
If Maulana Fazalur Rehman failed to gather sufficient crowd, he will be in trouble, for conspiracy against the elected government & state.
If Imran khan was smart he would simply resign and allow them to sort the mess
Everyone knows rigged election but no one calls to punish who rigged and messed it.
Nothing going to.hapoened . PTI gov is strong and going.to complete the.tenure umpires are with Ik till they find substitute captain. Which is very unlikely at this stage.
War has been announced by the mullah against his elected government but not for the Kashmiris. What a fraud.
Maulana would be disgraced ultimately by his own actions and thoughts .....
Imran Khan is on his way out.
PPP and Pmln playing a dangerous game supporting this man. They will do anything to protect their leaders. Reminds me of how bhutto used religious forces and then zia did the same driving us backwards socially.
Fazal May have few with him marching But if any one try to disrupt our lives in Islamabad then we as public will push them out.
Opposition needs to do well in a good democracy.
That's more people then all the various Kashmir events put together. Clearly shows what the people of Pakistan really care about, but is the Govt. listening ?
Imran sud resign
IK cooked pudding for himself,now is the time to taste it. Container politics has comeback to hound IK.
Though I am not a Pakistani, I feel that this Maulana ji can't pressurise Imran khan ..He can demand resignation of PM but has no right to disrupt peace.
Rally of loosers!
Great !
A Mullah defeated at the polls is threatening an elected government How shameless
Welcome!
@Najam UL seher, britlliant comment
The corrupt, criminal and so-called religious scholars with uneducated, illiterate and uncivilised people.
However, they will not achieve their purpose.
@Habib A Zuberi, PhD Emeritus Prof.of Eco.,
Mr. Habib A Zuberi, PhD Emeritus Prof. of Eco,
They are on daily wages, uneducated and backward.
@Saeeds,
Mr. Saeeds,
Because Mr. Maulana Fazlur Rahman is himself a ZERO person and his associates too.
@Mahmud,
Mr. Mahmud,
Who are you demanding for resignation?
@Naeem Qureshi ,
Mr. Naeem Qureshi,
Because Mr. Maulana Fazlur Rahman is corrupt to the core.
I bet you will hardly find an 'educated' being amongst these creatures!