Islamabad sit-in on cards as opposition mulls ‘massive’ anti-govt movement

Maulana Fazlur Rehman to lead large-scale joint protests across the country, say opposition sources

KARACHI:

Opposition parties have decided to launch a large-scale joint protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government which would include rallies and public gatherings across the country, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Sources privy to the decision made by opposition parties said the schedule of the "anti-government movement" will be decided by Rahbar Committee while the opposition's options would be further assessed during Sunday's All Parties Conference (APC), which will also be attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif via video link.

A campaign would be launched ahead of the protest in order to ensure full participation of the masses, the sources said, adding that the top leadership of the main opposition parties including PPP, PML-N and JUI-F was in constant contact in this connection.

"Demonstrations would be held in the first stage, followed by rallies and meetings and eventually a protest march towards the federal capital to oust the government."

If there is a consensus among all the opposition parties, the sources said, a "massive" public march will be held across the country, which will conclude in Islamabad. "If required, this march will be turned into a protest rally or a sit-in". In addition to these options, the opposition will continue to protest in the Parliament.

Sources said that it was decided that if the government took retaliatory actions against the opposition leaders, the protests could be extended to major cities and highways after consultation. "One option is to start a prison-filling movement."

The opposition has also decided to expose the poor performance of the government. However, an agreement to resign from their seats in the assemblies could not be reached.

Sources said that both the major opposition parties — PPP and PML-N — have signalled to the JUI-F leadership to join the protest movement and have shown intention to hand over command of the anti-government movement to Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

They also said that the opposition would also consider taking the legal route against the government for what it considers vengeful tactics against its leaders. They said that the opposition could change its protest strategy and options according to situation.

When contacted in this regard, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan confirmed to The Express Tribune that the opposition was indeed considering these options, including the anti-government protests. "All decisions will be made in consultation [with other opposition parties]," he added.

Meanwhile, the PTI sources said that the government would not interfere in the peaceful protests of the opposition but would not allow it to take the law into its own hands.

PTI leader and Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood told The Express Tribune that protest was a democratic right of the opposition. "The government will decide its course of action after the decisions of the opposition's APC."