Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government on Wednesday allowed the opposition Jamiat-e-Ulema-Islam-F’s anti-government ‘Azadi March’ to take place as long as the protest stays within the ambit of the law.
The government said the opposition would be allowed to carry out the protest as it is their constitutional right duly interpreted in the judgments of the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court.
“It was decided that the Government would allow the proposed Azadi March, if it takes place within the ambit of law and the Constitution as interpreted in the decisions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Islamabad High Court,” said a statement released by the PM Office
However, the opposition was reminded not to take measures which would adversely affect the everyday life of citizens. The decision was taken after a team constituted to negotiate with the opposition, led by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, met Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Taking PM Imran in confidence, the government’s negotiating team further expressed hope of successful negotiations before October 27.
“Government believes in democratic norms,” the prime minister was quoted as saying during the meeting. Imran Khan said that the government will not get blackmailed, adding that no one will be allowed to jeopardise lives or property.
The seven-member government committee comprising Pervez Khattak, Asad Qaiser, Asad Umar, Pervaiz Elahi, Sadiq Sanjrani, Shafqat Mehmood and Noorul Haq Qadri was set up after Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced to mount a march on Islamabad on October 31.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with senior journalists and analysts, which lasted for over an hour, the prime minister expressed his views about the JUI-F’s threat of launching protest, issues of inflation, unemployment and foreign policy.
The prime minister sees a conspiracy behind Maulana Fazl’s protest which he said is driven by a certain agenda. “There is no question of my resignation and I will not resign. Dharna is agenda based, and it has foreign support.”
“I don’t understand what Maulana’s problem is,” he was quoted as saying in the meeting. “I don’t understand the agenda of the opposition.” The prime minister said that at first, India was against ‘maulanas’ but now, they were celebrating at the idea of Fazl’s protest.
“Look at how the Indian media is celebrating Maulana Fazl’s protest,” he said. Prime Minister Imran said that it was his wish to host the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Pakistan. The prime minister acknowledged that inflation and unemployment remain a big problem which his government is trying to resolve.
He said he had proofs of election rigging in four constituencies when he had staged the sit-in at D-Chowk. Asked about media restrictions on Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he said there was no ban on broadcasting JUI-F Ameer’s appearances.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the government will not get blackmailed.
