Quetta observes shutdown as JUI-F demands justice

Religious leaders warn May 10 march will be a decisive turning point

QUETTA:

The provincial leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Balochistan has issued a sweeping set of demands, including the immediate arrest of those responsible for killing Maulana Idrees and other slain religious scholars, the reopening of sealed seminaries, an end to economic exploitation of traders under the guise of lockdowns, and the withdrawal of the contentious Mines and Minerals Bill.

Addressing a protest rally at Manan Chowk on Wednesday, JUI-F provincial chief Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay, along with district leaders Maulana Abdul Rehman Rafiq, Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi, Mufti Muhammad Rozi Khan, and others, declared that the upcoming Quetta March on May 10 would serve as a decisive turning point for the rights of religious seminaries.

The leaders thanked the people and business community of Quetta for making the shutter-down strike a success, calling the people of Balochistan a fortress of steel protecting madaris. "From Chaman to Taftan, and from Sibi to Gwadar, the entire province stands united with JUI-F's call," speakers said, adding that seminaries are the guardians of Pakistan's ideological frontiers and that no conspiracy against them would be tolerated.

Separate resolutions adopted at the rally condemned the brutal assassination of central leader Maulana Muhammad Idrees, demanding swift justice for all slain scholars. Another resolution rejected any coercive or unilateral legislation on religious seminaries, vowing to continue constitutional and democratic struggle. The forum also demanded an immediate halt to raids on madaris across the province and the reopening of sealed institutions.

Strong condemnation was expressed over economic exploitation of traders under lockdowns, with a call to end the policy immediately. Deep concern was also noted over rising anarchy, lawlessness, obscenity, and crippling inflation in Quetta.