ISLAMABAD: The venue of the JUI-led sit-in at H-9 has turned into a tent city with the participants fully resolved to brave the hardships caused by sudden downpours.

Rain-resistant tents have been erected in the area and the protesters say they have full arrangements in place for rain, cold weather or any other adverse situation.

“We have waterproof plastic sheets, quilts, blankets, mats and all cold-related materials and can stay here for a year if our leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman orders us to do so,” they said.

“It is no less than a holy war (Jehad) for us. We are not afraid of rains, cold or any other hardship. All necessary arrangements have been made and we have plastic sheets, tents, blankets, quilts and mats. The government has failed. It is creating problems for people instead of giving them any relief.

“Unemployment, price hike, lack of security, injustice and anti-Islam steps are what Imran is giving to people in his state of Madina. He should have some shame while mentioning Riasat-i-Madina of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” said Abdul Aziz from Charsadda.

Some of the protesters said there were difficulties after the rains but such hardships could not affect their resolve.

“The heavy rains have created some problems but we are used to such hardships. We brought mats, blankets, quilts and sheets with us from homes. Plastic tents have been arranged and we will make more arrangements when the need arises.

“We will not budge on our mission and wait till death for what our leader Fazlur Rehman asks us to do,” said Abdul Nasir from Balochistan, sitting in his tent along with other protesters.Workers of Pakhtunkhwa Mili Awami Party (PkMAP) and National Party (NP) are equally charged and determined to continue the movement unless and until, in their opinion, the illegal, unconstitutional government is sent packing.

Senator Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Member Balochistan Assembly Nasrullah Khan and provincial executive Dr Hamid Achakzai of PkMAP said rains and cool had not affected their resolve.

They said they had full arrangements to save the protesters from rains and the cold weather. The government is bogus, illegal, unconstitutional, undemocratic and our struggle for its removal will continue, they said.

“We are ready for any sacrifice to establish supremacy and independence of parliament,” they said.

“We are with the Maulana and will stand by him in this anti-government movement come what may,” pledged the leftists who have otherwise been against religious parties.

Similar were the views of National Party workers. “Rains or storms cannot dent our resolve. We are ideological people and this movement will continue till the unconstitutional government is removed and fresh elections are announced. The JUI has taken a good step and we are with its chief no matter what,” said Malik Nazir Awan from Khushab, who is senior vice president of the NP Punjab.

The participants, majority of them teachers of seminaries and senior students, said taking part in the sit-in was a noble cause.

“When we think we are here for a big Islamic cause, we don’t feel any hardship,” said Rohul Ameen from Lakki Marwat.

He said all the participants had full faith in the leadership of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

“We are ready to sit here for a long period of time as we have all necessary items such as tents, blankets, cylinders etc.”

Another participant, Fareedullah, claimed that during the last three days more marchers had joined them.

“I don’t think if there is any decrease in our strength rather more people are joining us,” he said. However because of the weather issue the crowd was scattered.

“You will see hundreds of our fellows are taking rest at the underground metro stations while others are in tents and some moving in nearby markets,” he said.

During a visit to the Azadi March site, it was noticed that the participants were taking hot food such as boiled eggs etc. A group was also seen negotiating with a vendor selling mineral pitch (salajit) which people use during the winter to protect themselves from the cold.

The vendor said he was selling a 10gram salajit against Rs500. However, he said a majority of the protesters just came to him and asked about its originality and turned away. “So far, only few protesters have purchased salajit,” he said.

It was noticed that the protesters were facing shortage of toilets as majority of the temporary toilets collapsed during the torrential rain.“These toilets have collapsed because of rain but on the second site we have more toilets. We also use the toilets of nearby mosques,” said Nazir Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2019