K-P minister warns of Azadi march reprisals

Invites JUI-F to resolve issues through dialogue

PESHAWAR: Echoing sentiments expressed by the Federal Defence Minister and former provincial chief minister Pervez Khattak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Sunday reiterated the offer for the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and other opposition parties to talk out their differences instead of taking to the streets.

In a televised statement on Sunday, Yousafzai said that his government is seeking a way out with the JUI-F.

However, he warned that if the opposition parties take to the roads, the government will be forced to establish its writ. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government is ready for talks with all political opponents, including the JUI-F,” Yousafzai said and asked them to table their agenda.

“We can talk with the JUI-F on the Kashmir issue, inflation and of opening for scrutiny the constituencies they want, but they should clarify what should we address,” the information minister said, adding that ousting the government will be a dream.

We allow every citizen to stage protests peacefully and democratically and to table their demands to the government, he said, adding that they know that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is bringing an agenda of chaos and destruction, something which the government will not allow.

“We are also urging opposition parties not to become a dummy in the hands of JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman for the sake of his political gains,” Yousafzai said, clarifying that the government cannot be toppled through such agitation.

Meanwhile, sources say the provincial government has decided to take some pre-emptive measures to limit the impact of the ‘Azadi March’ by confining all opposition leaders to their respective districts and that no one will be allowed to host a large gathering in any district of the province.

Furthermore, the government has decided to partially close the main highways of the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway and the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) on October 30. If the situation worsens, they may even completely shut down the highway, the source added.

The official added that all leaves and even scheduled off days of security forces, police and constabulary have been cancelled and those who stage agitations within the province or found to wear ‘khaki uniforms’ will be jailed.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2019.