Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), has rejected the government’s proposal. He has once again clarified that “we will not end our sit-in until the premier resigns”.
According to media reports, Maulana was informed through Ch. Pervez Elahi that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was ready to form a judicial or parliamentary commission to probe into allegations of rigging in the 2018 general elections. However, stubborn Maulana has categorically rejected the offer and demanded the premier’s resignation at any cost.
Just sat with #MaulanaFazlurRehman 4over an hour, what many are seeing as soon-will-fizzle out sit-in is no joke, nor is his conviction & the extent hes willing to go till. Dialogue is just timepass he says, for an idea of what hes thinking watch @newseyeofficial @Dawn_News 10pm pic.twitter.com/VfO5e7vBb4
— Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari) November 7, 2019
“There will be chaos in the country if the prime minister does not resign. We are not afraid of anything. We cannot go back,” Maulana said.
He also repeatedly asked the premier to step down. “You are at a dead end now and now you must decide whether you want to continue to remain there or come out and give back the people their right,” said the JUI-F chief.
Analysts believe Maulana is ‘so frustrated’ that he can compromise on the law and order situation in the country. He is now openly threatening the entire system that “if the government does not step aside, there will be bloodshed,” Maulana has said.
Read more: Fazal Ur Rehman- Fighting for Islam or Islamabad?
Ch. Pervez Elahi, Speaker of Punjab Assembly and member of the government committee formed for negotiation with protesters, has said that there was no chance of accepting Fazl’s demand of the PM’s resignation because the incumbent government had been democratically elected by the people. “We are hopeful of finding a middle ground during the talks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the joint opposition’s Rehbar Committee met to discuss the future course of action. PPP leader Farhatullah Babar, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq, PML-N Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Ameer Muqam, JUI-F’s Owais Noorani, Qaumi Watan Party’s (QWP) Hashim Babar, Jamiat Ahle Hadith’s Shafeeq Pasuri, National Party’s (NP) Tahir Bizenjo and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PkMAP) Usman Kakar attended the meeting of the Rehbar Committee.
https://twitter.com/meherbokhari/status/1192491755607875584?s=20
JUI-F leader Akram Khan Durrani spoke to media after the meeting and said that Azadi March will take a new direction in two days. He further explained that on the basis of recommendations presented during Thursday’s meeting, new moves will emerge in the protest. He added that new caravans from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) would soon join the Azadi March.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Farhatullah Babar said that the opposition is putting the government under pressure, calling it ‘the first phase’. There are reports which claim that the joint opposition is mulling over new options; B and C. However, PPP and PML-N did not join the sit-in so far. There are speculations that the PML-N’s President Shehbaz Sharif is reluctant to stand by Maulana due to the latter’s anti-establishment posture.
Read more: Apart From Opposition’s Betrayal & Disgrace, What Did Maulana Achieve?
Since Maulana has threatened to create chaos in the country if the premier does not stepdown, the government is left with a few options. Political commentators believe that there needs to be a political settlement between the government and these protesters so that the JUI-F’s chief gets something for his face-saving. But there are slim chances of ending the sit-in any time soon.
Dr. Moeed Pirzada, a prominent columnist and TV anchor, questions the wisdom behind granting permission to Maulana and his political aides to hold a protest in Islamabad. He believes that the mob can go anywhere now since the leaders have announced that they will not be able to control it if the premier does not tender his resignation.
Maulana, a man who enjoyed privilege, in every government for past 30 years, is so frustrated after 14 months out of power, that he is shamelessly threatening to create mayhem, anarchy and deaths? says: country should go to hell, Sad! he was so dependent upon "position"? https://t.co/RCuo5bsyL7
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) November 7, 2019
He suggested that the government should take the nation into confidence on the matter. “Everyone should be told that Maulana is not abiding by the agreement he signed with the local administration,” he said. Dr. Pirzada thinks that a well-shaped narrative shall help the government to create a context in which it can carry out an operation against the miscreants.