–Fazl says draft of charter of demands to be finalised in another APC on Aug 29
ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties have decided to ‘lockdown’ the federal capital in protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s policies, especially its ongoing accountability drive largely targeting the opposition leaders.
The decision was taken at a multi-party conference held at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Talha Mahmood on Monday.
The date and venue of the ‘lockdown’ could not be agreed upon at the huddle, which was not attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Addressing a press conference following the five-hour-long meeting, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the APC has tasked the Rahbar Committee to draft a ‘charter of demands’ for the proposed protests within a week. Another APC will be convened on Aug 29 to finalise the draft, he added.
“The opposition has decided that they would jointly march on the federal capital… ‘Islamabad lockdown’ would prove to be the last nail in the government’s coffin,” he said.
Blaming the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan of allegedly selling out the Kashmir cause, Fazl said it had stabbed Kashmiris in the back. “Just a few days ago, we were pondering over capturing Srinagar and now working out on ways to defend Muzaffarabad,” he remarked.
The JUI-F chief said the seriousness required on the issue was not exhibited on state’s level, adding that the rulers were part of ‘an international conspiracy’ being hatched against Pakistan. “
“Nobody could dare think of selling Kashmir when I was the Kashmir committee chairman,” he claimed.
Commenting on intensity of the ‘Islamabad lockdown’, Fazl said no one would be able to disperse the protesters as “our mujahids (workers) are not embarking upon a pleasure trip and are well prepared to bear every hardship”.
The country’s overall political situation and the government’s one-year performance were also reviewed at the meeting.
Commenting on a question regarding Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure extension, the JUI-F chief said that government officials routinely get service extensions. “This is not a political issue,” he added.
