PML-N throws spanner in Fazl’s ‘Azadi’ plans

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Mian Abrar
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–JUI-F chief agrees to postpone rally till Friday after request by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif

–Fazl warns of chaos if Imran fails to resign 

–Bilawal says Azadi March clear message to ‘incompetent’ govt to go home 

RAWALPINDI: The Azadi March led by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) entered Islamabad on Thursday, where it will be likely to culminate in a sit-in at H-9 venue that would be attended by the opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party.

The opposition, however, is divided on the date of the sit-in, especially after a ‘unilateral’ announcement made by the PML-N, wherein it announced a one-day delay in the jalsa owing to a train accident in Rahim Yar Khan which claimed 73 lives.

In a statement to the media, PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said the rally will now take place after prayers on Friday.

The statement initially opposed by Maulana Fazl was later agreed upon when the JUI-F chief’s spokesperson and Rehbar Committee head Akram Khan Durrani confirmed the postponement of the rally till Friday.

Sources said that Faz agreed to the PML-N’s suggestion for delaying the jalsa after PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif spoke to him on the telephone.

According to reports, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif will address the Azadi March participants on Friday.

A JUI-F leader, on the condition of anonymity, told Pakistan Today that the “party leadership felt being backstabbed due to what he called a last-minute betrayal by the PML-N and PPP”.

Though, the agreement to the PML-N’s ‘demand’ seemingly bridged the difference between the two parties, Fazl’s Azadi March found itself mired in yet another problem after the PPP and ANP refused to budge from the ‘scheduled’ Thursday sit-in.

PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose participation in the sit-in was confirmed by spokesperson Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar earlier in the day, has refused to attend the rally on Friday due to his prior engagements.

“On return from Rahim Yar Khan tomorrow, Bilawal will try to join the opposition’s jalsa but nothing is confirmed yet,” said Khokhar, adding that his party was ‘concerned’ about the “prevailing confusion” regarding the sit-in. “Bilawal would skip Friday’s rally if the confusion persisted,” he added.

At midnight, PPP chief Bilawal reached the venue at midnight.

During the address, he slammed the ruling PTI for its inability to solve problems faced by masses and blamed the “incompetent” Prime Minister Imran Khan for pushing Pakistan towards economic disaster.

He said he was there to represent his party and paid tribute to the Azadi marchers, saying the protest was a “clear message to the government to go home”.

He said the people of the country were against the ‘puppet’ government, as they favoured democracy and freedom of expression rather than living under a ‘selected’ regime. He said the incumbent government was an attack on the democratic system.

He said slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto gave her life rather than giving to a dictator and the PPP was carrying on her tradition of resistance.

Meanwhile, ANP President Asfandyar Wali said that his party’s caravan had arrived at the venue per agreed plan and they would also leave the rally the same night after addressing the participants.

“We have arrived here at H-9. We will address the rally participants and leave tonight irrespective of the fact who arrives or not,” he said while addressing the media persons.

In a question pertaining to an apparent rift between the opposition parties, Wali said: “There is no rift among the opposition parties about attending the march. Today was the date for the rally… even if anyone reaches here or not, the ANP is here. We will address here and leave.”

“In any jalsa, someone comes first and others later. But it doesn’t make any difference,” he added.

In an interview with senior journalist Asma Sherazi, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said there would be “chaos” in the country if Prime Minister Imran Khan failed to resign.

“We have to finally get the resignation from them (the government). And we will fight for it,” he said, refusing to back down.

“The JUI-F wants to give the government a time period of 2-3 days while sitting in Islamabad,” said Fazl, adding the next strategy for the sit-in would be decided by the people.

The chance of JUI-F giving time to the PTI-led government has ended, said Fazl, doubling down on his anti-government rhetoric.

The JUI-F, which kicked-off its much-trumpeted anti-government rally on Sunday from Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, reached Lahore on Wednesday morning where it gathered a large crowd at the Greater Iqbal Park, the same venue where, in 2011, the incumbent premier had held one of the biggest political rallies in the history of Pakistan.

Addressing a charged crowd of his supporters he had brought along, Fazl had said, “Pakistanis, from Karachi to Islamabad, are in agreement that Prime Minister Imran Khan should resign.”

“The premier still has time to ‘respectfully’ submit his resignation,” he had said, adding that Pakistanis now would not give him further time to do so.

 

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