ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition leader and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on Wednesday called off his anti-government protest in Islamabad, announcing to block the country’s main highways and motorways in the next phase of the protest.
“You are leaving here today … but the journey of Azadi March will continue,” he told tens of thousands of demonstrators camped in Islamabad since October 31 who sought Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation and fresh polls in the country.
The firebrand religious cleric urged his followers to remain peaceful while implementing the next phase of the protest that, he said, would include blockade of highways and motorways across the country.
“We want to put the government under pressure since we refuse to accept the illegitimate rulers,” Rehman said while paying tribute to the demonstrators for being steadfast during the anti-government sit-in.
Huge crowds descended on Islamabad from various parts of the country on October 31, denouncing Khan’s government as illegitimate and calling for him to resign. The protesters are occupying a large open area alongside one of Islamabad’s main roads.
Khan has dismissed the calls to step down while the negotiations between the government and opposition politicians hit a snag.
Addressing the protesters in Islamabad Tuesday night, Rehman asked his party supporters across the country to come out of their homes to execute plan “B” of the anti-government protest but advised them not to take the law into their hands.
Rehman said that after taking protest to the next level “it will not be possible for the government to stand.”
“We will continue our struggle until we get rid of this illegitimate government,” Rehman said.
The ongoing anti-government protest in Islamabad has impacted the everyday life of the local residents and commuters traveling from other cities for work. The metro bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad cities has also been closed for almost two weeks.
“The venue of the rally, the metro (bus) depot, and Itwar (Sunday) bazar are side by side. Busses can’t enter the depot for fueling/maintenance without passing through the crowd. The Company that runs the operation is not willing to take the risk. We apologize for the inconvenience but there is no alternative,” the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqat tweeted Tuesday night.
