Wassay warns of consequences if govt halts ‘Azadi march’

He says it is JUI-F’s democratic right to protest against the federal government

QUETTA: Member National Assembly and provincial leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) Maulana Abdul Wassay has warned the provincial government to refrain from creating any obstacle in Azadi march, adding that it is JUI-F’s democratic right to protest against the federal government.

“JUI-F workers would jam the whole province if the Balochistan government tries to prevent us from participating in the Azadi march,” said Maulana Wassay. “We have said the march would be peaceful.”

Addressing a ceremony in Balochistan High Court on Tuesday, the JUI-F leader asserted that the government would be responsible if anything happens to the party leadership.

“If Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Mehmood Khan are treacherous then who is patriotic in Pakistan?” Wassay asked.

“JUI-F has been striving hard for the supremacy of parliament and constitution. The country has witnessed blatant rigging in the 2018 elections that imposed this incompetent government on the people of Pakistan,” he said.

Fazl vows to oust government with ‘Azadi march’

Citing the 126-day protest led by Prime Minister Imran Khan back in 2013 outside the parliament, Wassay said Imran provoked his workers to attack the parliament and PTV headquarters against former  Nawaz Sharif’s government and today when he is the prime minister, he is threatening the opposition with dire consequences.

“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has destroyed the country’s economy and announced it will shut 400 government departments. This proves that they cannot run this country,” the JUI-F leader said.

Talking about Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove’s statement, Maulana Abdul Wassay said the provincial government wants to prevent Azadi march citing security issues but despite all odds and government’s pressure, JUI-F workers would march towards Islamabad, he vowed.

Inviting lawyers to join the march, Wassay said lawyers’ community in Pakistan has a long history of sacrifices for the supremacy of law. The JUI-F leader requested them to participate in the march and sit-in against the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2019.