LARKANA: Pakistan De­m­ocra­­tic Movement (PDM) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the very elements who had set the trap are now conducting inquiry into the episode of retired Captain Safdar’s arrest.

The maulana, who is also chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, said at a media talk at Jamia Islamia Ishaatul Quran Wal Hadith here on Thursday, that proclaimed offenders were brought to register a fake case against PDM leaders Maryam Nawaz and her husband Capt Safdar and now the very elements who had set the trap were probing the episode.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was undemocratic and unelected and it had failed to enforce rule of law in the country. Entire nation would have to be on a single page and support PDM because it was fighting a battle of nation’s rights, he said.

He said that PDM was a movement of several parties but every party had its own constitution and it would be free to adopt its own path in the next election.

PTI was neither a movement nor did it stand for justice as people were continuously being subjected to enforced disappearances across the country under this government, he said.

He said that people were being ‘disappeared’ despite the country having a Constitution and courts. If someone was a traitor he should be produced in court for punishment but instead relatives of missing persons were left to weep over their loved ones and hold protests for their recovery, he said.

Maulana said that democratic elements had fought against martial laws throughout their lives and the prevailing situation was not more threatening than what they had gone through. Those who were issuing threats should first answer who was responsible for the Karachi incident, he said, adding that they would not accept hegemony of hidden forces.

He said that they would not offer any NRO to the government. Cases had also been registered against PDM leadership in Punjab and if this continued then the movement would be turned towards jails, he said.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party chairman’s participation in Quetta public meeting was already scheduled but if Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari did not reach there to address the gathering then other PPP leaders would represent him.

He said that it was the government’s responsibility to provide security to public meetings. All citizens were equally affected by massive price hike.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2020