Baton-wielding force not allowed to march on Islamabad
Mohmand administration imposes curbs as QWP announces to join the march
Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
As the opposition parties banded together for the upcoming ‘Azadi march’ led by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), the provincial government on Monday took steps to counter them while a provincial cabinet member warning that he government will not allow any ‘baton-wielding’ force to march on to the federal capital.
Addressing a joint news conference at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar on Monday with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Food Qalandar Khan Lodhi, K-P Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has succeeded in pushing the matter of Kashmir on to the back burner thanks to his protest march.
He continued that the government has granted the JUI-F permission to hold its rally in the federal capital. However, he warned that no one will be allowed to disturb the law and order situation, nor will the provincial government allow an armed force to hold a rally.
The information minister further said that a cell has been set up in the provincial home department to monitor processions. The cell, he added, will provide daily reports to a ministerial committee — led by Law Minister Sultan Khan — which has been tasked with monitoring the law and order situation in the province.
He hoped that the JUI-F will abide by the agreement it signed with the government.
“All who attend the procession are urged to remain peaceful,” Yousafzai said, adding that it would have been better had the opposition introduced a no-confidence motion in the parliament instead of staging a long march.
“The opposition claims to have gathered 1.5 million people for the march, but in reality, they cannot even muster 0.1 million people,” Yousafzai claimed.
The provincial information minister, though, assured that the government will implement its end of the agreement signed with the opposition.
“Police will maintain law and order situation in the province,” he said.
In response to a question, provincial minister for food, Qalandar Khan Lodhi said that there was no food crisis in the province.
Separately, Adviser to K-P Chief Minister on Tribal Districts Ajmal Wazir Khan in a news conference at the Media Cell of the Information Department on Monday said that the government will honour the pact between the Rehbar Committee and the federal government and that they will not create any hurdles in the path of Azadi march participants.
However, he echoed statements from Yousafzai that the government will take strict action against those taking the law into their hands.
Criticising the march, he added that even the protesters were unclear about the agenda for which they have come out onto the roads.
Ban on pillion riding
In wake of the ‘Azadi march’ of the opposition, the district administration in Mohmand on Monday imposed a ban on the open display of weapons, pillion riding and loose sale of petroleum products such as petrol and diesel.
A notification issued by Mohmand Deputy Commissioner Iftikhar Alam stated, “It has been learnt through local police that JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has called for Azadi march on October 27-31 to proceed to Islamabad and stage a protest against the government, and JUI-F Mohmand workers will join them too.”
The notification added that to ensure the public safety, the district administrations had adopted some measures including ordering the closure of shops dealing in acid and arms. Moreover, inflammatory and hate speeches have also been banned. Further, provision of catering services or renting sound systems, using tinted windows and selling old tyres have also been banned.
The notification added that the bans shall remain in force for 30 days.
QWP joins march
Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Sherpao on Monday met with JUI-F’s provincial chief Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman and announced his decision to join the march.
The decision was announced during a meeting of QWP’s provincial leaders in Peshawar. It was decided that workers of QWP will start marching towards Islamabad from Charsadah under the leadership of QWP chief Sherpao. He warned that the provincial government will try to create obstacles for protesters as it was completely perplexed therefore they should remain prepared for every kind of situation.
Explaining his decision to join the march, Sherpao said that it was to get rid of the ‘selected’ government and strengthen democracy.
He reiterated the opposition’s demands of resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, holding a fresh election, non-deployment of the army soldiers during elections and protecting the Islamic provisions of the Constitution.
He also condemned the arrest of JUI-F leader Mufti Kifayatullah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2019.
As the opposition parties banded together for the upcoming ‘Azadi march’ led by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), the provincial government on Monday took steps to counter them while a provincial cabinet member warning that he government will not allow any ‘baton-wielding’ force to march on to the federal capital.
Addressing a joint news conference at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar on Monday with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Food Qalandar Khan Lodhi, K-P Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has succeeded in pushing the matter of Kashmir on to the back burner thanks to his protest march.
He continued that the government has granted the JUI-F permission to hold its rally in the federal capital. However, he warned that no one will be allowed to disturb the law and order situation, nor will the provincial government allow an armed force to hold a rally.
The information minister further said that a cell has been set up in the provincial home department to monitor processions. The cell, he added, will provide daily reports to a ministerial committee — led by Law Minister Sultan Khan — which has been tasked with monitoring the law and order situation in the province.
He hoped that the JUI-F will abide by the agreement it signed with the government.
“All who attend the procession are urged to remain peaceful,” Yousafzai said, adding that it would have been better had the opposition introduced a no-confidence motion in the parliament instead of staging a long march.
“The opposition claims to have gathered 1.5 million people for the march, but in reality, they cannot even muster 0.1 million people,” Yousafzai claimed.
The provincial information minister, though, assured that the government will implement its end of the agreement signed with the opposition.
“Police will maintain law and order situation in the province,” he said.
In response to a question, provincial minister for food, Qalandar Khan Lodhi said that there was no food crisis in the province.
Separately, Adviser to K-P Chief Minister on Tribal Districts Ajmal Wazir Khan in a news conference at the Media Cell of the Information Department on Monday said that the government will honour the pact between the Rehbar Committee and the federal government and that they will not create any hurdles in the path of Azadi march participants.
However, he echoed statements from Yousafzai that the government will take strict action against those taking the law into their hands.
Criticising the march, he added that even the protesters were unclear about the agenda for which they have come out onto the roads.
Ban on pillion riding
In wake of the ‘Azadi march’ of the opposition, the district administration in Mohmand on Monday imposed a ban on the open display of weapons, pillion riding and loose sale of petroleum products such as petrol and diesel.
A notification issued by Mohmand Deputy Commissioner Iftikhar Alam stated, “It has been learnt through local police that JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has called for Azadi march on October 27-31 to proceed to Islamabad and stage a protest against the government, and JUI-F Mohmand workers will join them too.”
The notification added that to ensure the public safety, the district administrations had adopted some measures including ordering the closure of shops dealing in acid and arms. Moreover, inflammatory and hate speeches have also been banned. Further, provision of catering services or renting sound systems, using tinted windows and selling old tyres have also been banned.
The notification added that the bans shall remain in force for 30 days.
QWP joins march
Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Sherpao on Monday met with JUI-F’s provincial chief Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman and announced his decision to join the march.
The decision was announced during a meeting of QWP’s provincial leaders in Peshawar. It was decided that workers of QWP will start marching towards Islamabad from Charsadah under the leadership of QWP chief Sherpao. He warned that the provincial government will try to create obstacles for protesters as it was completely perplexed therefore they should remain prepared for every kind of situation.
Explaining his decision to join the march, Sherpao said that it was to get rid of the ‘selected’ government and strengthen democracy.
He reiterated the opposition’s demands of resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, holding a fresh election, non-deployment of the army soldiers during elections and protecting the Islamic provisions of the Constitution.
He also condemned the arrest of JUI-F leader Mufti Kifayatullah.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2019.