Azadi March: Protesters led by Maulana Fazl set out for Islamabad

JUI-F chief says Prime Minister Imran Khan must tender his resignation

QUETTA/ KARACHI: The Azadi March of the opposition parties, led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, began from Karachi on Sunday with an aim to oust the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The marchers also include workers and leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the Awami National Party (ANP).

Addressing the protesters from atop a special container at Sohrab Goth, Fazl reiterated the opposition's demand for Prime Minister Imran's removal.

"[Prime Minister] Imran Khan must tender his resignation. We have proven today that the entire nation is united in its wish to see Imran Khan removed from office," he said. "We never accepted the 2018 elections or the government that was formed on the basis of those questionable results."

He asserted that the protesters would not violate any laws and the march would comply with all the conditions stipulated by the administration.

Fazl condemned the National Database and Registration Authority's decision to declare former senator Hafiz Hamdullah a "confirmed alien".

He said the protesters would not be intimidated by any such tactics.

The rally is headed towards Sukkur via Hyderabad on the M-9 motorway. Caravans from Balochistan will join in at Sukkur.



The marchers will spend the night in Sukkur and will leave for Punjab through Ubauro on Monday morning.

Sindh Information and Archives and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said the PPP's Karachi division made arrangements to welcome the protesters and they would be received by the PPP leaders in Jamshoro.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, marchers gathered at meeting points in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and Buner.

A JUI-F convoy set out from Quetta on Sunday and was expected to reach Islamabad via the Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan route. Marchers would be joining in from Turbat, Gwadar, Chagai, and Naushki.

Islamabad plan

The marchers are expected to arrive in Islamabad by October 31.

On Saturday, the JUI-F and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government agreed that the protesters would gather at a ground in H-9 Sector but not enter the federal capital's Red Zone.

A written agreement was signed between the Islamabad deputy commissioner and JUI-F, Islamabad General Secretary Mufti Mohammad Abdullah.



The opposition, in view of the verdicts of the apex and high courts, said it would ensure that the basic rights of public were not affected due to their protest. The opposition parties would ensure that the protesters do not leave the designated venue. Besides, they would also be responsible for their internal security.

Mufti Kifayatullah held

Authorities on Sunday arrested Mufti Kifayatullah, a firebrand religious leader belonging to the JUI-F, in Islamabad hours before the opposition parties were set to launch an anti-government rally, officials and his party said.

According to Aurangzeb Haider Khan, deputy commissioner of Mansehra – Kifayatullah's hometown, he was arrested for 30 days.

"He has posed constant threats to law and order which may disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the district," Aurangzeb said.

For the last several days, Kifayatullah made several appearances on local TV channels criticising retired army officers for commenting on national politics on current affairs shows.

An order issued on Saturday by the deputy commissioner stated that Kifayatullah had been found involved in "chanda [donation] collection, holding corner meetings and inciting the public for taking part in the Azadi march arranged by JUI-F".

"The activities of Mufti Kifayatullah are posing a grave threat to public safety, which may create disturbance of public tranquility, danger to human life, health and safety.

"Due to this act, serious sectarian disharmony is prevailing in the district. The situation is snowballing into serious law and order situation […]," stated the order issued under Section 3(1) of the West Pakistan MPO.

It said the Mansehra DPO had requested that warrants be issued for Kifayatullah's arrest under Section 3(1) of the MPO.

"The said person may be detained and confined in Central Jail, Haripur for a period of 30 days from the date of arrest," it read.

"We reject such illegal actions of arresting our leaders before a peaceful march," said Maulana Jalil Jan, a spokesperson for JUI-F in K-P.