Gearing up: JUI-F to protest against provincial govt from Jan 26

Party set to launch campaign for LB polls on the same day.

PESHAWAR:

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) is set to protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government’s performance from January 26.

A statement issued after the party’s provincial general council and parliamentary committee meeting read that they would launch a campaign for local bodies (LB) elections on the same day.



It stated the party’s chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had expressed concern over the increasing kidnapping for ransom cases, extortion, and law and order situation in the province.

The protest will take place on GT Road. The party says they have decided to establish contacts with traders in the city to ensure the protest is successful.

JUI-F’s spokesperson Haji Jalil Jan said the party had authorised its district chapters to establish electoral alliances with other parties at a local level. Talking about the protest, Jan said, party members had expressed concern about the provincial government. Jan claimed the members felt the government had failed to fulfil its promises and taken a turn for the worst.

At the meeting, they also discussed the increase in tax on traders and said the 25% increase in rent on government and commercial properties was uncalled for.

The party’s scheduled provincial tour, which was supposed to start on January 18, has been postponed due to the protest. The party’s central and provincial election incharge, Sikandar Khan Advocate and Maulana Asmatullah will visit the divisional headquarters from January 5 to January 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2014.