Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Opposition parties have decided to bring the federal capital to a standstill in protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s policies especially its ongoing accountability drive largely targeting opposition leaders, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Monday.
The decision was taken at a multi-party conference held at the residence of JUI-F Senator Talha Mahmood in Islamabad on Monday.
The date and venue of the ‘lockdown’ could not be agreed upon at the huddle, which was not attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Addressing a news conference following the five-hour-long meeting, Fazl said the APC, which he himself chaired, has tasked the Rahbar Committee to draft a ‘charter of demands’ for the proposed protests within in a week. Following which, another all-parties conference will be convened on August 29, he added.
“The opposition has decided that they would jointly march on the federal capital… ‘Islamabad lockdown’ would proved to be the last nail on this government’s coffin,” said the JUI-F chief.
Blaming the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan of allegedly selling out the Kashmir cause, Fazl said it had stabbed Kashmiris in the back. “Just a few days ago, we were pondering over capturing Srinagar and now working out on ways to defend Muzaffarabad,” he remarked.
JUI-F chief said the seriousness, required on the issue, was not exhibited on state’s level, adding that the rulers were part of ‘an international conspiracy’ being hatched against Pakistan. “Nobody could dare selling Kashmir with me on the Kashmir committee chair.”
Recent developments indicated that US President Donald Trump had asked the Pakistani leadership, which recently visited Washington, to keep mum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s illegal Kashmir move, Fazl claimed.
Commenting on intensity of the ‘Islamabad lockdown’, Maulana Fazl said no one would be able to disperse the protesters as “our mujahids (workers) are not embarking upon a pleasure trip and are well prepared to bear every hardship”. The country’s overall political situation and the government’s one-year performance were also reviewed at the meeting.
Fazl said Pakistan’s security is being threatened today due to incompetence of the Imran Khan government, adding that the country is touching rock-bottom on economic fronts. “Nations count on economic prosperity for their progress… Soviet Union-like conditions are being created for Pakistan, which currently lacks national unity,” he commented. Commenting on a question regarding Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure extension, the JUI-F chief said government officials routinely get service extensions. “This is not a political issue.”
Opposition APC discusses ‘Islamabad lockdown’ plans
Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Opposition parties have decided to bring the federal capital to a standstill in protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s policies especially its ongoing accountability drive largely targeting opposition leaders, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Monday.
The decision was taken at a multi-party conference held at the residence of JUI-F Senator Talha Mahmood in Islamabad on Monday.
The date and venue of the ‘lockdown’ could not be agreed upon at the huddle, which was not attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Addressing a news conference following the five-hour-long meeting, Fazl said the APC, which he himself chaired, has tasked the Rahbar Committee to draft a ‘charter of demands’ for the proposed protests within in a week. Following which, another all-parties conference will be convened on August 29, he added.
“The opposition has decided that they would jointly march on the federal capital… ‘Islamabad lockdown’ would proved to be the last nail on this government’s coffin,” said the JUI-F chief.
Blaming the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan of allegedly selling out the Kashmir cause, Fazl said it had stabbed Kashmiris in the back. “Just a few days ago, we were pondering over capturing Srinagar and now working out on ways to defend Muzaffarabad,” he remarked.
JUI-F chief said the seriousness, required on the issue, was not exhibited on state’s level, adding that the rulers were part of ‘an international conspiracy’ being hatched against Pakistan. “Nobody could dare selling Kashmir with me on the Kashmir committee chair.”
Recent developments indicated that US President Donald Trump had asked the Pakistani leadership, which recently visited Washington, to keep mum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s illegal Kashmir move, Fazl claimed.
Commenting on intensity of the ‘Islamabad lockdown’, Maulana Fazl said no one would be able to disperse the protesters as “our mujahids (workers) are not embarking upon a pleasure trip and are well prepared to bear every hardship”. The country’s overall political situation and the government’s one-year performance were also reviewed at the meeting.
Fazl said Pakistan’s security is being threatened today due to incompetence of the Imran Khan government, adding that the country is touching rock-bottom on economic fronts. “Nations count on economic prosperity for their progress… Soviet Union-like conditions are being created for Pakistan, which currently lacks national unity,” he commented. Commenting on a question regarding Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure extension, the JUI-F chief said government officials routinely get service extensions. “This is not a political issue.”
