ISLAMABAD: A protest led by a firebrand religious politician rallied tens of thousands of Pakistanis through the populous Punjab province on Tuesday en route to the capital, Islamabad, with the stated aim of toppling the government.
Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, has called the government of cricketer-turned-politician Prime Minister Imran Khan “incompetent and illegitimate.”
Rehman announced a protest campaign earlier this month aimed at ousting Khan, raising the prospect of political turmoil as the government struggles to stabilize the economy.
Protesters set off out on Sunday from the southern port city of Karachi and plan to undertake a 1,440-kilometer-long journey to the country’s capital, passing through major Pakistani cities.
Along the way, it is expected that the march, which has come to be called the Azadi, or freedom, march, will be joined by thousands of seminary students and convoys of major opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The caravan is expected to reach Islamabad on Thursday, October 31. Analysts predict the show will be the biggest public gathering in the federal capital since a 2014 sit-in by Khan, then an opposition leader, against the government of former PM Nawaz Sharif.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court ordered the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from where Rehman’s party draws a majority of its supporters, not to close highways in an attempt to stop the march.
A two-member bench of the PHC said the provincial government should not block any roads with containers, and urged participants of the march to remain peaceful.
Khan won last year’s election on a promise to end corruption and help middle-class families but the economy is running into headwinds and the government in July agreed to a $6 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
Election authorities rejected opposition complaints of rigging in the 2018 vote.
Rehman is a veteran politician who heads an alliance with several seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies. But his real influence comes from his ability to mobilize support, particularly in numerous religious schools, or madrasas, across the country.
The main opposition parties of former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto have both said they would back Rehman’s campaign against Khan, though have also said they would not support any unconstitutional action.
In statements reported by media, Khan has said he will not resign or be “blackmailed” by protesters.
On Tuesday, markets and many businesses closed across Pakistan for a strike to protest against government measures aimed at meeting IMF demands to boost tax revenues to bolster depleted public finances.
The International Monetary Fund approved a $6 billion loan package for Pakistan in July but warned that it would require ambitious fiscal measures and a sustained commitment to mobilize tax revenue to ensure funds for development while reducing debt.
The two-day strike is the second since July called by business groups after negotiations with government on efforts to enforce the paying of sales tax and catching tax dodgers.
Firebrand religious politician rallies thousands to Islamabad to 'topple government'
Firebrand religious politician rallies thousands to Islamabad to 'topple government'
- PM Khan said he will not resign or be “blackmailed” by protesters
- Convoy expected to reach Islamabad on Oct 31, protest leaders say will not leave until PM Khan resigns
Pakistan’s national space agency says Ramadan likely to begin from Feb. 19
- In Pakistan, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting moon for new Islamic months
- Space agency says the chances of moon sighting with naked eye are ‘very bright’ on Feb. 18
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency has announced that the Ramadan crescent is likely to be visible in Pakistan on Feb. 18 and consequently, the first of the holy fasting month is expected to fall on Feb. 19 in the South Asian country.
In Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting the moon for new Islamic months. Dates for Ramadan and Eid festivals are confirmed by the committee through visual observations and based on testimonies received of the crescent being sighted from several parts of the country.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said on Friday the Ramadan crescent is expected to be born on Feb 17 at 17:01 Pakistan Standard Time, adding that the age of the new moon will be approximately 25 hours and 48 minutes at the time of sunset on Feb. 18.
“Based on astronomical parameters, the chances of sighting of the new moon with naked eye are very bright in the evening of 18 Feb 2026,” SUPARCO said.
“Consequently, the 1st of Ramazan may likely to fall on 19 Feb 2026.”
However, it said the final announcement regarding the beginning of the holy fasting month will be made by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which is the “sole competent authority,” based on credible witness testimonies from across the country.
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, where Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual activities from sunrise to sunset. This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid-ul-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.
