Emir Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday ruled out any possibility of holding talks with the government unless Prime Minister Imran Khan steps down and a ground is prepared for an early election.
"Talks [with the government] can be held only on holding an early election in the country. There will be no dialogue before resignation [of PM Khan]," Maulana said while talking to reporters after a delegation of National Party led by Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo held a meeting with him and assured his party's full support to the JUI-F's planned 'Azadi March' and sit-in protest in Islamabad.
However, the JUI-F chief dispelled the impression of any ongoing talks through any channel as reported, saying neither is there any talk under way nor is he waiting for any such offer. Referring to divergence of opinion among various opposition political parties on the nature of anti-government protest movement, he said that all the opposition political parties are of the consensus view that this government came into being as a result of the rigged election and hence its mandate is 'fake' and all the parties want an early election.
"As far as my party JUI-F is concerned, we are determined as per our plan. We will go by our own plan in phases from one front to another front till achievement of the final goal," the defiant Maulana said, adding that he expects the rest of the opposition parties to contribute as per their capacity, as there is no compulsion on them to join JUI-F till the end.
When asked to further clarify his plan for the protest drive, he said that his party's position is to hold the sit-in for an indefinite period. However, consultations process is still under way within the party as well as with rest of the opposition parties, as some parties want to hold only a rally.
"We would keep our workers proactive...I would like to warn the rulers not to mess with the 'honeybees', as we cannot be stopped. It would be like a flood of the people which would sweep away anything that comes in its way. Therefore, I am also advising the institutions not to expose themselves by trying to stop the party workers," he warned.
he JUI-F chief also alleged that members of the intelligence agencies are contacting the party leadership at district and provincial levels and are allegedly intimidating them to stay away from the anti-government movement. "I want to make clear to them that such tactics will never work. All the decisions are being made at the central level. So, such tactics must be stopped to avoid any 'disregard' of the institutions," he added.
Maulana further claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan is not only regarded as 'fake' premier within the country but also across the world. "Now the world has also realized that he [Imran Khan] has no genuine mandate. I would also like to ask the world community not to deal with him as prime minister of Pakistan as the nation does not recognize him as the premier," he further claimed.
Speaking on the occasion Hasil Khan Bizenjo said that his party supports the JUI-F's protest movement. He also called upon rest of the opposition political parties to come forward and fulfil their 'responsibilities.'
He said that his party would hold a meeting tomorrow (Thursday) which would discuss the party's participation in the JUI-F protest movement. "Through a press conference, we would announce a complete participation in the JUI-F protest," he said, adding that time has proved that the previous general elections were 'massively rigged' and the current government came into being through a 'fake' mandate.
Meanwhile, a meeting between the JUI-F chief and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif has been scheduled to be held at Model Town, Lahore, on October 18 (Friday) which would be followed by a joint news conference by the duo, JUI-F sources said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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