PPP using excuses to avoid anti-govt protest, claims JUI-F leader

Says ‘long march to capital’ will go ahead unless there is re-election

QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam—Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, who is a former senator, has said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was trying to hide behind excuses in order to avoid participation in the opposition’s proposed long march to Islamabad while also dismissing speculation that the party was using the ‘religious card’ to gather support.

The JUI-F leader, while in conversation with a media outlet, claimed that the PPP was trying to attempt to seek the support of ‘hidden forces’ which he said was the reason for their refusal to join the protest.

Earlier this month, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had said that his party would not join the long march to be led by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, but promised to provide "moral and political support".

The JUI-F leader said that his party was exercising patience in connection with the statements made by Bilawal as well as the actions taken by the PPP.

“During the no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman, we were abandoned by the PPP,” he said regarding the move against Sadiq Sanjrani in which the opposition faced a surprising defeat despite having the numbers.

“But despite the reservations, we are ready to cooperate with the PPP,” he added.

Speaking about the purpose of the long march, the former senator said that they would lockdown the capital unless re-elections were announced.

He also slammed Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid remarks about the march as well as the JUI-F, saying that he was devoid of ideology.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2019.