Thousands of charged followers of Jamiat Ulema-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Thursday entered the capital amid lack of coordination among opposition parties regarding the modalities of much hyped Azadi March.
It transpired that all the major participants of Azadi March including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have different policies and stance regarding the opposition's protest campaign.
In this backdrop, a clear division was quite imminent among the ranks of opposition political parties due to lack of understanding with regard to holding of the rally on Thursday.
After much confusion, the rally (Jalsa) scheduled for Thursday as decided by the representative body of the opposition parties - Rahbar Committee - was delayed to be held on Friday because of the conflicting statements by leaders of various opposition political parties.
The confusion started when PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb announced that the rally will be held on Friday instead of Thursday due to a train accident near Rahim Yar Khan.
On the other hand, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who was in Rawat at that time and leading the marchers towards Islamabad, insisted that the rally will be held as planned (Thursday).
The JUI-F chief's stance was seconded by Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan who told media persons at the protest venue that the rally will be held on Thursday, leading an impression of deep rift within the ranks of the opposition parties.
But, strangely, the ANP chief reached the protest venue hours before Maulana and unilaterally addressed a hard-hitting presser there in which he reiterated to hold the rally on Thursday 'come what may.'
"This was decided by the Rahbar Committee that the rally will be held on October 31st. "As per the understanding we have reached the venue and we would follow whatever decision was taken by the Committee," Asfandyar said.
The ANP spokesman Zahid Khan has earlier alleged PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb for creating rifts among the opposition ranks.
However, the confusion was later addressed when Akram Khan Durrani, a senior JUI-F leader who is also convener of Rahbar Committee, stated that the rally will be held on Friday and the opposition leaders including Maulana Fazlur Reham will address the participants after the Friday prayer.
He said that as marchers from across the country are leading towards Islamabad who will be reaching the venue late Thursday night, the rally has been delayed to be held on Friday (today).
Talking to media persons at the protest venue, PML-N senior leader Khawaja Asif admitted that there was a confusion regarding the rally; however, it will now be held on Friday and party President Shehbaz Sharif will address the participants of Azadi March.
To avoid any untoward incident, heavy contingents of police, Rangers and FC are deployed around the venue of Azadi March. The administration also installed walkthrough gates at the entrance points of the protest venue. Police and workers of Ansarul Islam of JUI-F are conducting body search of people entering the venue.
At the venue workers of JUI-F, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), National Party and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami (PkMAP) have installed separates camps.
Like 2014 sit-in of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the management of Azadi March has also installed big screens at the venue. Workers of JUI-F also set up stalls for selling party flags, caps and bags. Around 2,000 bathrooms of plastic will be set up at the protest venue.
Earlier in the day, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar Khan and DIG (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed visited the venue of Azadi March near Peshawar Morr, besides visiting Zero Point, Faizabad and other areas to check the security arrangements.
The IGP directed senior officials of police deputed at Red Zone to remain high alert. Heavy contingent of police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) are deployed in and around sensitive installations including Prime Minister Secretariat, Parliament House, Supreme Court, Pak Secretariat, Diplomatic Enclave and other important government buildings.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Security) Waqar Ahmed Chohan will supervise security arrangements at Red Zone. Police also placed a large number of containers around Red Zone and roads leading to it in order to prevent entry of marchers. Police have allowed restricted entry into Red Zone.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqat and other officials briefed senior leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) about routes of Azad March. In the wake of Azadi March, a comprehensive traffic plan has been devised to facilitate motorists, he said.
The administration has also placed containers on all the roads connecting the twin cities, as well as around the Red Zone, Faizabad Interchange and Zero Point Interchange. Roads leading towards the Red Zone are blocked as a precautionary measure to counter any move by JUI-F's Azadi March to reach sensitive areas.
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