People in power have stolen mandate: Fazl

Azadi caravan continues making headway to Islamabad

LAHORE: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F's) Azadi march that continued its Islamabad-bound journey without any hurdle was expected to arrive in Lahore on early Wednesday and depart for the federal capital in the first half of the day after a brief stay in the provincial metropolis.

According to JUI-F Leader Maulana Amjad, the march that had just left from Okara by the time of filing of this report would arrive in Lahore by 2:00am on Wednesday.

The JUI-F leader said that they would stay in and around greater Iqbal Park for the night and would leave roughly before 11:00am on Wednesday for Islamabad.

He remarked that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday addressed participants of the rally in Multan before heading for Lahore and also briefly addressed his workers in Sahiwal and Okara.

He said that Fazl would expectedly address participants of the rally twice in Lahore; first on his arrival in the city and second before leaving for Islamabad.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the other hand has also completed its preparation to give the JUI-F chief a warm reception in Lahore.

PML-N on Tuesday gave receptions to Azadi march at two places each in Khanewal and Sahiwal and also at Okara bypass.

Towards their journey from Okara to Lahore, Azadi march would be given receptions at Pattoki and Phoolnagar in Kasur area, while in Lahore they would be welcomed at Thokar Niaz Baig, Chowk Yateem Khana, Samanabad, Chauburji Chowk and Data Darbar.

On Wednesday, Azadi march will be given its last reception at Shahdara Chowk before leaving for Islamabad.

A detailed plan to greet the participants of the march on their way to Islamabad has also been prepared by the party. Duties have been assigned to concerned leaders of the areas to prepare for the reception.

According to PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bukhari, Nawaz-league Lahore President Pervaiz Malik is expected to share the stage with Maulana Fazlur Rehman during his address.

She said that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif would not attend the Azadi march address in Lahore.

Azma maintained that PML-N workers would leave for Islamabad either with the march or later to attend the October 31 jalsa (public gathering).

She said as per the existing plan, PML-N leadership would not travel in the form of any convoy due to security reasons and would leave for Islamabad on the morning of October 31 for jalsa before 3:00 pm.

The PML-N leader observed that Shehbaz Sharif would address the October 31 jalsa.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) regarding welcoming the JUI-F Azadi March in Lahore clarified that they were not welcoming or participating in the movement and all the reports aired on the subject were baseless.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while addressing the participants of Azadi march in Multan, where he shared the stage with PML-N stalwart Javed Hashmi said, the march was to tell the rulers and world that the people in power were not leaders and ‘usurpers of power’ who had stolen the public mandate.

Fazl said that the sea of people proved which side the public was at. He said that the ‘incompetent’ bunch of individuals had destroyed the economy of the country leaving nearly 3 to 4 million people jobless against the promise of giving one million jobs.

He said that they had destroyed small businesses, scared the investors and left the economy in tatters.

Fazl claimed that the sea of people would dethrone the ‘usurpers of power’ when it arrives in Islamabad.

He also briefly addressed the participants of the rally in Sahiwal where he maintained that the Azadi march was the symbol of the rejection of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and that ‘sham accountability’ was being done for political gains.

Fazl said that caravans from Sindh and Balochistan had joined the march.