JUI-F’s three-way strategy to bring down govt

Reviews strength of its workers before announcing march

KARACHI: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has prepared a three-pronged strategy to deal with any possible move by the government to stop its Azaadi March which is scheduled to take place on 27 October.

These plans will be implemented if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government tried to arrest the JUI-F’s leaders and workers or barred them from entering the federal government.

The first plan is the lockdown of Islamabad. The second plan comprises protests sit-ins at key places and highways of the country. The third plan includes a call for a wheel-jam strike. One of these options will be selected in light of the prevailing situation.

The JUI-F’s leadership has devised these three strategies after detailed consultations.

The party sources said the JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman discussed the message from important political leaders who suggested deferring the Azaadi March.

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But the JUI-F leaders said if the march is not held within the current month, it will cause serious damage to the party and any movement launched later against the rulers will not be so effective. In light of this consensus, Fazl announced the date of the Azaadi march.

The sources said the JUI-F reviewed the strength of its workers before announcing the march.

The party has prepared a strategy for its march towards Islamabad and the subsequent sit-in there. Caravans from all the important districts will depart for Islamabad on 27 October.

Rawalpindi will be the important centre of these caravans. They will enter Islamabad collectively through Faizabad. However, the route can be changed in view of the situation. They will stage a sit-in at D-Chowk. The option of staging a sit-in in front of Parliament House may also be adopted.

The sources said in case of arrests of important leaders including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the party will adopt an aggressive strategy.

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The JUI-F has sent messages to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that the JUI-F is ready to participate in any all parties’ conference (APC) hosted by any party. In the APC, the full strategy of the protests can be drafted.

They said the central agenda of the JUI-F march and sit-in is to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The party will never withdraw this demand.  Sources said preparations are underway to collect dry food, beds, water and other items for the participants of the march and sit-in.

The JUI-F understands that it is difficult for the PPP and the PML-N to fully participate in the march. Therefore, they will insist that leaders of these two parties should participate in the protest activities. The JUI-F will ask its workers to remain peaceful.

The sources, however, said the party has kept the door of talks open.