ISLAMABAD: Gul Mohammad learned how to cook during his time as a preacher. Now, at the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Azadi March, he is responsible for cooking for another 20 protesters at the sit-in.

The JUI-F protesters have divided into small groups of 15 to 35 people, each led by an emir. The groups prepare their own food and carry out various other tasks.

Different people have been assigned different duties, including preparing three meals a day for the rest of their group.

Some of the participants are students from seminaries in their respective areas and others are preachers, which is how they learned to cook.

“I have spent enough time preaching (Tabligh), where we cook our own food and make tea. All the members of my group have spent some time in preaching and so cooking is no problem for them. We are at the beck and call of Maulana Fazlur Rehman. We have accumulated sufficient food materials and will stay here for as long as our leader orders us to stay and do whatever he asks us to do,” said Mr Mohammad from Kharan, Balochistan.

The food participants have arranged includes meat, rice, vegetables and pulses. They have brought rice, potatoes, pulses, oil, dates and almonds with them from their hometowns, while meat, vegetables and roti and naan come from nearby markets or are made at the protest site. Some people have even brought precooked food with them, and make do with that.

“We studied in a seminary in Gotki, where we would do our own cooking, washing, etc. And it has benefited us today. We can cook any food for the participants of the sit-in. We mostly prepare rice, meat and vegetables for our meals and have tea with naan for breakfast,” said Abdul Hamid, whose group consists of 25 people.

Other participants opt to buy food from stalls set up at the margins of the protest site in H-9. There are tea stalls and vendors selling food, snacks and fruits all over the area.

While some participants have set up tents to protect themselves from the chilly nights and warm days, others are sleeping out in the open.

The protesters have come from all over the country and profess enthusiasm and commitment to the cause of removing the incumbent government to install an Islamic political system in the country. Most of them have brought foodstuff, mats, sheets, blankets and tents with them. They are organised and well-prepared to remain in the capital for as long as they need.

The workers from Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) appeared to be just as committed as those from the JUI-F. They too have divided themselves into small groups.

PkMAP Regional Secretary Wali Kakar said they had made arrangements for a three-month stay and could make arrangements for as long as they need.

He said some workers prepare their own food, while others buy food from outside. He said that they were with Mr Rehman and would wait for his orders, adding they were peaceful and not afraid of guns, hardship or any other mishaps.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2019