PTI govt making every effort to facilitate marchers: Ijaz Shah

Interior minister says more space will be provided to protesters if needed

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Shah on Thursday said the government was making every effort to facilitate the participants of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) ‘Azadi march’.

“We will make it as comfortable for them [the protesters] as possible,” he maintained, adding that it would be like staying in a five-star hotel.

“If they will need more space, we will arrange it for them,” the minister said at a news conference accompanied by Special Assistant to the PM on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan.

The minister said it was for the first time in the country’s history that a prime minister had allowed such a march to proceed to the federal capital.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to allow the ‘Azadi march’ to take place did not allow those who wanted to create chaos to succeed,” he added.

“The prime minister has made it clear that whoever abides by the Supreme Court’s verdict penned by Justice Qazi Faez Isa and the Islamabad High Court’s decision can come to Islamabad.”

Shah said the government had facilitated the participants of the ‘Azadi march’ throughout their journey.

“The march started from Karachi on October 27 and reached Gujar Khan today. Around 20,000 to 25,000 participants travelled this journey in the last four day and we provided them with water, electricity at their stops and a traffic plan so that they can reach Islamabad without any untoward incident,” the minister added.

Shah explained that according to the agreed plan, the marchers from would use the Islamabad Highway from Rawat and then move towards Faizabad Interchange. From there they will reach I-9 and then on 9th Avenue. After that they will reach the venue of their protest that lies on the left before Kashmir Highway.

The minister said a separate route had been designated for JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman container so he could reach the venue comfortably and proceed directly to the stage.

“The government will also provide security to participants of the march. We have removed bushes from the venue of the protest with a bulldozer and arranged water, electricity and sanitary lines for the protesters. We have also marked hotels and eateries where they can have their meals.”

7,000 diplomats

Speaking on the occasion, Firdous said the government wanted the JUI-F chief and the participants of the march to know that there were 7,000 diplomats in Islamabad.

“These people [diplomats] connect Pakistan to the world. They represent Pakistan’s face in their countries. Therefore, I am hopeful that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will proceed with his adventure peacefully. The government has accepted his right to protest and it is hoped that the JUI-F will not endanger the stability of the country,” she added.

The PM’s aide pointed out that the United Nations had declared Islamabad a non-family station after the 2008 Marriot Hotel bombing.

“The incumbent government has managed to change that after a hectic struggle, largely because of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s efforts to improve the country’s image,” she maintained.

She noted that the Pakistanis living abroad were working hard for the country’s cause and they faced more challenges when there was unrest in the federal capital.

“Maulana’s political narrative has no power. His grievances are baseless, emotional and have nothing to do with reality,” she claimed.

“The protesters should refrain from taking any step that is a threat to national security and the prestige of the country,” she warned.