Emir Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman while lambasting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's foreign policy on Saturday said that Pakistan's friends in global community know about the official status of the country's policy on Kashmir, therefore no country has condemned India's move to annex Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference he said that not only opposition parties but even the government allies have expressed serious doubts on the manner in which the elections 2018 were held, adding that from election day to present date JUI-F and other opposition parties have not accepted the incumbent government's right to rule the country.
He said that recent visit of top Pakistani government officials to China bore no fruitful results but there was total disappointment, adding that Imran Khan hardly managed to get 20 minutes time from Chinese President. He added that parliamentary panel on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has unanimously rejected the idea of establishment of CPEC authority but the PTI government through a presidential ordinance has created the CPEC authority which is totally against the Constitution and is, therefore, illegal.
The JUI-F chief said the "military has decided to remain impartial" and political issues will be resolved politically. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has not yet contacted them for negotiations. Fazl said the entire nation is united to remove the "unjust and ineligible government". He said the masses are determined to participate in the JUI-F's 'Azadi March'.
The JUI-F chief said they will express solidarity with the Kashmiri people marking October 27 as a 'Black Day', followed by the beginning of their march towards Islamabad. He reiterated that the march will enter the federal capital on October 31.
Fazl thanked political parties and people from all walks of life for 'extending' their support. He said there was rarely an instance in the past when there was such unity against the government on national level.
"We are coming while remaining within the ambit of the Constitution and law, and will not be confronting any institution," the JUI-F chief told reporters. He also urged the government to demonstrate maturity.
The JUI-F chief said that top leadership of the two major opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), decided in principle to fully support the JUI-F's 'Azadi March' against the government. He said that other opposition parties will also join his 'Azadi March' to rid the country of "an incompetent and illegal set-up" which, according to him, is a result of fake elections.
"We do not want a confrontation with anyone. However, if [the government] resorts to violence, we would also use our ability to exact revenge," Fazl said. "Our peaceful sentiments should not be taken as a weakness. No one has the right to impose himself on the nation by stealing votes," he said, claiming the incumbent government will have to resign in any case.
The JUI-F lamented that the country's economy has been destroyed, while inflation has made life of people miserable. Fazl said, "The day PTI government took control of the state affairs, over 2 million people were deprived of the jobs, contrary to Prime Minister Imran Khan's promise of providing jobs to 10 million Pakistanis.
Moreover the PTI government also promised to build 5 million houses for the people, but from the day of formation government PTI government is busy demolishing the poor people's homes declaring them encroachments, ignoring the fact PM Imran Khan's Bani Gala residency is also illegal." So far Imran Khan has provided job opportunities to only two foreigners including governor State Bank of Pakistan and adviser on finance, he added.
Fazl also backed traders who are protesting recent tax reforms in the country. He said their "justified demands" are not being met by the government. Responding to a question regarding British Prince William and Kate Middleton's upcoming visit to Pakistan, he said that Pakistan welcomes every global personality, adding that the British Prince and Princess must apologize for atrocities Britain carried out in the sub-continent during their colonial rule.
The JUI-F chief said that all opposition parties had rejected the July 25, 2018 elections and had called for fresh elections. "In this regard, the JUI-F and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal have carried out 15 'million marches' in the country to raise awareness among the people," he added.
"This will be an Azadi march. Groups of people from all over the country will embark on this journey which will culminate in Islamabad, where we will send the government packing," he had said. "We are not ones to disperse easily," he warned. The JUI-F has submitted an application with the deputy commissioner (DC) Islamabad office for seeking permission to hold 'Azadi March' on October 27, 2019 at D-Chowk, Islamabad, exercising its democratic and constitutional right under Articles 16 and 17 of the Constitution against the incumbent government, according to the application.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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