Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday urged the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to reconsider its decision of marching on Islamabad on October 27.
“Maulana has announced to protest in Islamabad on October 27, and it was October 27, when New Delhi took over the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
This day is associated with the Kashmiri people. By protesting on this day, JUI-F will not only damage Pakistan but also the Kashmir cause,” said Qureshi, speaking to a private television channel.
“Maulana is a respectable man. If on October 27, there is a debate over an issue other than Kashmir, then India will find exaggerate it,” warned the foreign minister
FM Qureshi further requested Maulana Fazlur Rehman to rethink his decision. “He can protest but his protest must not be merged with the matter of Kashmir.”
Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has hinted at mass arrests of the JUI-F central and provincials leaders to scuttle the anti-government sit-in.
The JUI-F chief, it seems, has decided to take a solo flight when he announced Oct 27, as the date for his long march despite requests by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to postpone the march.