Maulana Fazl 'open to talks on Azadi march'
Says ‘anxiety in government circles’ clear sign that his rally will achieve its results
PHOTO: Reuters
RAWALPINDI:
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday hinted that he was open to negotiations over his anti-government ‘Azadi march’ on October 31.
“We will not budge on our demands and objectives, but if someone tries to mediate, our response won’t be negative,” he said at a news conference.
The JUI-F chief maintained that the “anxiety in government circles” was a clear indication that his ‘freedom march’ would achieve its results.
“They [government officials] were earlier taunting us by saying that the participants of the march would be provided with food and containers. Now, things have changed and they are saying that they won’t let us enter Islamabad,” he added.
Fazl again requested state institutions to remain neutral on his long march.
“Any institution should not mistake our peaceful sentiments for weakness. Nobody has the right to steal the people’s mandate and impose himself on us,” he said.
Preparations for crackdown on ‘Azadi’ marchers under way
The JUI-F reiterated that he did not want a clash with the institutions.
Fazl said the whole nation was united against the government. “I thank the political parties which have supported our long march. It’s a rare instance in our country’s history that there is such unity on a national level against a government,” he added.
“The government is becoming isolated and sinking deeper into a quagmire. If we march together, the results will be more effective.” The JUI-F chief also expressed his gratitude to Jamaat-e-Islami for supporting him.
Fazl said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sit-in in 2014 had failed to topple the previous government because other opposition parties had united to thwart its attempt.
“Our strategy will be different than that of the PTI. We will disclose our plan when we reach Islamabad,” he added.
Speaking on the government’s policies, the JUI-F chief said the increasing inflation had made it hard for a common person to make ends meet and the just demands of traders were not being accepted. “Pakistan even failed to win the US’ support,” he added.
“For the first time in the history of the UN General Assembly, the US ignored Pakistan-India relationship, countries which are our friends voted against us and we also failed to win the confidence of the Human Rights Council.”
Fazl further said stripping occupied Kashmir of its special status was part of the BJP’s manifesto but the government had not made any preemptive diplomatic efforts to prevent it from happening.
“You [the government] sold out Kashmir and that is why friendly countries are also not supporting us,” he added.
The JUI-F chief also claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had returned from China disappointed.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday hinted that he was open to negotiations over his anti-government ‘Azadi march’ on October 31.
“We will not budge on our demands and objectives, but if someone tries to mediate, our response won’t be negative,” he said at a news conference.
The JUI-F chief maintained that the “anxiety in government circles” was a clear indication that his ‘freedom march’ would achieve its results.
“They [government officials] were earlier taunting us by saying that the participants of the march would be provided with food and containers. Now, things have changed and they are saying that they won’t let us enter Islamabad,” he added.
Fazl again requested state institutions to remain neutral on his long march.
“Any institution should not mistake our peaceful sentiments for weakness. Nobody has the right to steal the people’s mandate and impose himself on us,” he said.
Preparations for crackdown on ‘Azadi’ marchers under way
The JUI-F reiterated that he did not want a clash with the institutions.
Fazl said the whole nation was united against the government. “I thank the political parties which have supported our long march. It’s a rare instance in our country’s history that there is such unity on a national level against a government,” he added.
“The government is becoming isolated and sinking deeper into a quagmire. If we march together, the results will be more effective.” The JUI-F chief also expressed his gratitude to Jamaat-e-Islami for supporting him.
Fazl said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) sit-in in 2014 had failed to topple the previous government because other opposition parties had united to thwart its attempt.
“Our strategy will be different than that of the PTI. We will disclose our plan when we reach Islamabad,” he added.
Speaking on the government’s policies, the JUI-F chief said the increasing inflation had made it hard for a common person to make ends meet and the just demands of traders were not being accepted. “Pakistan even failed to win the US’ support,” he added.
“For the first time in the history of the UN General Assembly, the US ignored Pakistan-India relationship, countries which are our friends voted against us and we also failed to win the confidence of the Human Rights Council.”
Fazl further said stripping occupied Kashmir of its special status was part of the BJP’s manifesto but the government had not made any preemptive diplomatic efforts to prevent it from happening.
“You [the government] sold out Kashmir and that is why friendly countries are also not supporting us,” he added.
The JUI-F chief also claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had returned from China disappointed.