MULTAN/SAHIWAL: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday criticised what he called Imran Khan government’s pro-Modi stance and reiterated unconditional support for the army as the Azadi march size grew with a large number of supporters joining it from Balochistan, D.G. Khan division and central Punjab districts.

The march, which had entered Punjab on Monday night, arrived in Multan — where the JUI-F has a strong madressah-based presence — in the early hours of Tuesday morning and reached Okara by late evening. The caravan of cars, pick-ups, motorcycles, wagons, buses and trucks was almost 60km long when it hit Sahiwal.

Coming all the way on his bike from Qilla Saifullah, Balochistan, JUI-F worker Kafayatullah told Dawn that they would travel to Islamabad and stay there until the prime minister resigned.

A number of vehicles were seen carrying food, stoves, utensils and sleeping bags, indicating the possibility of a prolonged stay in Islamabad. The JUI-F chief told BBC in Multan that he would make a ‘very important’ announcement after reaching Islamabad.

Azadi march grows in size on way to Lahore; leaders of opposition parties meet JUI-F chief in Multan

Addressing a charged and responsive gathering, Maulana Fazl said that on one hand the government was opening the border at Kartarpur and, on the other, it was blackmailing his party over the Kashmir issue. “If you really think that there is tension on the LoC and we should not hold the march, then you should also not play the game of opening the border.”

Before setting off for Lahore from Multan in the afternoon, the Maulana spoke to the rally, raising the points that could well set the tone for his onward journey to the capital.

The JUI-F chief compared the government’s policy on Kashmir with its decision to open the Kartarpur border. “There is a clear contrast between the government’s position on Kashmir and the stance it has taken on Kartarpur,” he added.

He said that before Indian elections, Mr Khan had claimed that the Kashmir issue would be resolved if Narendra Modi succeeded. “Modi has succeeded but the Kashmir issue could not be resolved,” he added.

He said PM Khan by issuing controversial statements had put the country on a defensive position on different occasions. He said: “The state claims that US helicopters entered the Pakistani airspace by jamming the radar system to conduct Abbottabad operation, but today’s ruler says that it was the ISI which guided the Americans; the state claims that the country is fighting against terrorism, but our ruler is saying that ISI trained Al Qaeda.”

He said the JUI-F would defend the country and stand by the army if the difficult time came. “If difficult time comes, these Khaki-clad volunteers will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Army,” he added.

The Maulana said all opposition parties were supporting his march, as it was meant to win rights of the nation protected in the Constitution, but regretted that restrictions had been imposed on the media not to air the Azadi march.

“The entire nation knows the incumbent government is fake and incompetent. It has ruined the country’s economy. Azadi march is the voice of every segment of society.”

Speaking briefly in Sahiwal on his way to Lahore, the Maulana termed the accountability process vindictive as Mr Khan openly declared that he would crush his political opponents. “We want supremacy of civilian rule, but he is taking revenge. I am representing the federation as I have people from all provinces with me. I want the resignation of Imran Khan,” he claimed.

In a late night development, an office-bearer of the JUI-F’s Rawal­pindi chapter announced that the Azadi march participants would now pass through Murree Road. Earlier, the rally was not scheduled to enter Rawalpindi and the administration had allowed the marchers to enter Islamabad from Rawat using the Expressway. The change of plan can create a new situation for the administrations of the two cities.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2019