JUI-F says it is ready for Islamabad power show

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has demanded a ban on Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and said that its preparations are complete for May 15 power show outside Supreme Court.

Every village and neighbourhood council has been directed to contribute at least five coaches and workers have been directed to reach Hakla Interchange along with these vehicles.

All member parties of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) have already completed consultations and non-members parties have also been taken into confidence.

Addressing a press conference here at Mufti Mehmood Markaz Peshawar, Provincial Amir of JUI-F Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman said that the entire nation has given a call for May 15 protest and the entire nation will march on Islamabad against the decision of Supreme Court and its judges.

“The protest will be a single day sit-in or will continue, it will be decided in Islamabad,” he said, adding that JUI-F staged Islamabad Azadi March and did 15 million march but its workers did no damage.

“A peaceful march and protest is the right of every political party but PTI’s rioting was witnessed across the country,” he added.

Rehman said that Imran Khan is a ‘fitna’ and he is out to damage the country. “We have directed all the district associations to reach Hakla Interchange with its workers till 10 in the morning and from there they will march on Islamabad,” he observed, adding that around 10,000 volunteers of Ansarul Islam will be deployed for security of the protest.

Workers were asked to take food and clothes with them and be prepared for a prolonged protest because the duration of the sit-in has not been decided.

Maulana Attur Rehman said that PDM parties have been asked to fully participate in the protest.

On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has started preparations for the sit-in outside the Supreme Court on the instruction of the central leadership of the party.

PPP Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) president Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha has directed party workers to reach Islamabad to participate in the protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2023.