Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday insisted that "military should determine that it will not have any role in future elections and remain within its constitution boundaries", as he announced that future course of action of the anti-government movement will decided in consultations with opposition leadership today (Monday).
Following the two-day deadlines given by him to Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down and announce fresh elections without the supervision of the army, Maulana told a mammoth rally that it is not the end of the movement and also stated that the protest will continue till achievement of the desired results - sending the government back to home.
"I promise you that I will not disappoint you and we will go ahead and never go back. Whatever they want to do they must do, use tanks against us...we will not recognize your government whatsoever action you would like to take", he told the charged crowd from over the container on the fourth day of the sit-in. One thing is clear, he added, that this government has to go packing and there is no option but to send the rulers back to home.
The JUI-F chief maintained that the institutions have gone beyond their boundaries laid out for them within the Constitution. "We have a great regard for the military, but it is becoming controversial. We cannot see it becoming so. They should have to determine that it will have no role in the country's elections and will have to go back to its constitutional limits," the JUI-F chief further stated.
He said that that even chief justice of the Supreme Court has pointed this out that all the institutions should sit together and decide that Constitution is the supreme document and every institution should work within their constitutional ambits.
He lamented that the democratic institutions have become redundant and masses rather than relying on their votes look 'somewhere else' for government.
To advice that the JUI-F should approach Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about his reservations over the July 25, 2018 general elections, Maulana said that it was decided within the parliament that no party will approach to the ECP or any tribunal with regard to the reservations over the results, but a parliamentary committee was announced to probe into the matter.
"It has been one year, there has not been a single meeting and no rules and procedures have been set to probe rigging allegations. They tell us to go to the ECP and file a complaint there. ECP is even more helpless than we are", he said, adding: "if it weren't helpless, this huge crowd would not have gathered here in Islamabad".
He pointed out that the foreign funding case of the PTI is pending with the ECP since long and 'because of its helplessness and it is unable to decide about the case".
He also mentioned that some "friends" are suggesting him to adopt a more forceful strategy to oust the premier. "A friend has also suggested registering a treason case against me for saying to arrest the Prime Minister from his home. Try to understand, the determination with which we have come here, if we wish to advance, no one will be able to stop us. But we are peaceful people. We will do no such thing", he added.
JUI-F chief lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that he doesn't need to learn politics from him. "Do you expect this novice to teach us politics? Now people born with a golden spoon in their mouths will teach us politics and that too, the politics of the poor?" he added.
"If this flood decides to move towards the Prime Minister House, no one can dare stop it", he said, adding: "Imran Khan, listen to me. This movement and flood of people will force you out of the prime minister's seat."
He said "it was unfortunate that such people are occupying coveted seats of the premiership and the president". "We know about you and your character very well. We are also aware of ourselves and our characters", he said without naming anybody.
The JUI-F chief also asked the participants "not to pay heed to the tone set by the media". "Trust your own self and trust your leadership. The decisions made by your leadership in your favour will take you far in the future", he further told his supporters.
Responding to the chanting from crowd as they wanted to take the protest camp to the D-Chowk, he said that H-9 is an open space, D-Chowk is quite small for a gathering like this. "Whatever decision we make, we will do so with consensus with all opposition parties", he added.
He said that he would meet the leadership of the opposition parties today (Monday) to decide about the future course of action. "Today only Islamabad had been closed down but we can shut down the whole country", he said, adding that any further decision will be part of the plan, as he indicated that there is a 'Plan-B', 'Plan-C' and 'D' as well. "This has become now a movement and it is not only confined to the sit-in or D-Chowk, we have plans and that would be decided in consultations with the opposition parties' leadership and the movement will continue till ouster of the government.
He also went on to say that he through his political 'foresight' has linked his followers with the constitution, made them politically aware and keep them away from the armed struggles, but kept on seeking the constitutional and political way for fulfillment of the demands. "Don't you need to teach us about the politics and I myself will guide them in future as well", he added.
Earlier, as the deadlines expired, the law enforcement agencies put security on high alert on Sunday. Inspector General of Police (IGP) and senior officers of rangers conducted visits of red zone and different areas of the city and reviewed security arrangements made in the wake of Azadi March.
Security personnel including police, frontier constabulary (FC) and Ranger deployed at Islamabad's Zero Point and on roads leading to Red Zone have been alerted to prepare for unrest, police said, adding that the security personnel have all been provided tear gas canisters as well as other combat apparatus.
The number of police and FC personnel deployed at Zero point and other road leading to red increased, some more additional forces reached today for beefing security arrangements. The high ups of police issued directives to ensure that the participants of march do not move beyond the designated protest venue.
Islamabad police and personnel of ranger also hold joint flag march in the city in order to maintain peace and tranquillity in the city.
According to sources in Special Branch, 55,000 to 60,000 are present at the venue of the 'Azadi March' protest. However, there was no presence of worker of opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan PeopleS Party (PPP) except workers of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP).
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