PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz has been released on bail, the only condition being that she cannot leave the country. Speculations regarding her joining Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s ‘Azadi March’ have already begun.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz granted bail in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case
What will happen if Maryam joins the march? Watch the video to find out:
Saying that a meeting did take place between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, senior journalist and analyst Rauf Klasra has revealed further details of the encounter that some say “never took place”.
A journalist affiliated with a private media outlet had last month quoted the army chief as telling Fazl that “there was no possibility of a minus-Imran Khan concept”.
In the “important” meeting held ahead of JUI-F’s Azadi March, the journalist had claimed that Gen Bajwa “made it clear to Fazl that they wouldn’t permit destabilisation at a time when the regional situation was critical”.
While some, including an ex-army official, had denied the claims regarding any meeting between the two, no official statements were made as the journalist claimed it was “common knowledge”.
With Fazl going ahead with his anti-government protest, staging a sit-in in the federal capital and demanding Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s resignation, Rauf Klasra has two weeks later claimed that not only did the meeting take place, but it also saw a “heated exchange of words” between the COAS and the religio-political party chief.
“Even though both sides state otherwise, it has been confirmed that the meeting did take place. Not only did it occur, but it was also marred by a heated argument as Maulana Sahib defied the army chief,” Klasra said in a video doing rounds over the internet.
He claimed that Fazl refused to budge on his plans and the situation got tense enough for the army chief to gift him a perfume on his way out. “My sources say that Maulana was gifted a bottle of perfume to calm him down.”
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According to earlier claims, Gen Bajwa had reminded Fazl that he was a responsible political leader and must be aware that the regional situation was critical. “The situation on the border with India is volatile due to the Kashmir crisis and Afghanistan’s situation is also a source of trouble.”
The army chief had reportedly also referred to Iran-Saudi Arabia affairs and told the JUI-F chief that it was not an appropriate time for staging the protest since the economy had been brought on the right track after herculean efforts within the country and abroad.
Actor Neelam Muneer has expressed concern over Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Azadi March speech, wherein the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had mentioned “institutions’ support to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government” and sought Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s resignation.
Taking to Instagram, Muneer said she respected all religious scholars, but the country could not afford anarchy.
“I highly respect all religious scholars from the bottom of my heart. I seek guidance from their lectures and speeches on [a] daily basis. Today, Maulana Sahib, threatening to arrest Imran Khan from his house, broke my heart,” she wrote.
“Our country can’t afford anarchy or civil disobedience. We the youth need to take charge of our destiny and the only way to do that is to not listen to anyone who wants to create chaos in Pakistan.”
She further urged youngsters to unite against all entities “trying to destroy Pakistan.”
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that Pakistan Army is an impartial institution and its support lies only with the democratically elected government.
Speaking to a private media outlet on Friday night, the military spokesperson said that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was a senior politician and he should elaborate as to which institution he was talking about in his Azadi March address.
Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor’s statement came as JUI-F’s anti-government march on Friday reached Islamabad and Fazl trained guns at the “illegitimate” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
Addressing the protesters, he said that they did not want any confrontation with the institutions, but wanted them to be impartial. “We are giving you two days to stop backing the government,” he said, reiterating his demand for the institutions to be impartial.
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Following the JUI-F chief’s fiery speech, the ISPR DG said that the army had only discharged its constitutional and legal duties during the 2018 election. “The opposition should take its reservations to the authorities concerned.”
He added that unrest at such a crucial time was not in the better interests of the country.
“So far there has been good coordination between the government and opposition committees,” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said and added that democratic issues should only be resolved democratically.
He also said that no one will be allowed to harm the country’s stability.
FAZL’S REACTION:
“We don’t know on what basis he [Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor] has issued the statement,” the JUI-F chief said later in the day while speaking to media after attending a multi-party conference of opposition leaders at his residence.
Fazl added that the statement should have come from a politician instead of the ISPR chief since he represents the institution of army.
Earlier, the JUI-F chief gave Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan two days’ time to tender his resignation. “After this, we will make our own decision. We will not wait anymore.” He expressed his readiness to have a dialogue with the institutions, but said that the government had to go.
A journalist affiliated with BBC has claimed that senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir on Friday advised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif to run off ahead of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s fiery speech against the Imran Khan government.
“A few moments ahead of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief’s dangerous speech, Mir advised Shehbaz to take flight,” Rifatullah Orakzai tweeted.
Sharing an image of the trio laughing inside Fazl’s Azadi March container, Orakzai further wrote that Mir’s advice had the JUI-F chief, Shehbaz and Mir himself in fits of laughter.
Earlier, the journalist also addressed the protesters from atop the container to guarantee that women journalists would be permitted to cover the Azadi March.
“I addressed the gathering after I got a ton of grumblings from women reporters that they were not being permitted to cover the jalsa,” Mir said later, adding that he was approached by JUI-F leadership to make the declaration from the phase that women columnists could cover the walk and that they were permitted to report the occasion.
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“I, at that point, made the declaration on stage and expressed gratitude towards Fazl,” he said.
A number of women journalists had on Friday complained that the conservative JUI-F was barring them from covering its anti-government sit-in in the federal capital.
The revelations had come amid criticism for the religio-political party for having no women participation in its Azadi March.
Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry has warned Azadi March protesters against underestimating the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, saying that it is “exercising self-restraint only on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s call”.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) is currently holding a sit-in in Islamabad against the “illegitimate” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government that they say “stole people’s mandate”.
Protesters belonging to the JUI-F as well as other opposition parties on Friday reached Islamabad as Fazl gave the premier a two-day deadline for his resignation following fiery speeches by Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
With government members stepping up to support PM Imran, Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday tweeted to warn the opposition members.
“Don’t dare to underestimate #PTIGovernment we are exercising self-restraint because @ImranKhanPTI has desired so, if he makes a call these bunch of opportunists ll not find a place to hide in Pakistan,” he wrote.
Opposition parties are yet to react to the federal minister’s statement.
Ministry of Interior has expressed fear that terrorists can attack the ongoing ‘Azadi March’ of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), targeting Maulana Fazlur Rehman, ARY News reported.
According to the details, the Ministry has issued a fresh alert saying that terrorists want to attack JUI-F chief and for that, they can use an explosive-laden vehicle.
The interior ministry has directed officials for the provision of Maulana’s security and has informed Home Secretaries of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this regard.
Earlier on October 25, the interior ministry had issued an alert notice of possible terror attacks by banned militant outfits. The copies of the notice were also sent to chief secretaries of all province by the authorities.
The notice stated, “The protest march announced by JUI-F increased risks for the internal security of the country besides creating the situation of instability. The notice warns that anti-state elements could take benefit of the instability by targeting public gatherings”.
Dubbed the ‘Azadi’ March, the caravan, which set off from the Sindh province, left Punjab’s city Lahore on Wednesday and culminated its journey last night in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday came hard on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and said that the latter “can sell his Islam over a diesel permit or Kashmir Committee chairpersonship”.
Religio-political leader Fazl, who is also the former chairperson of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir, is currently in Islamabad as part of his Azadi March against the “illegitimate” government led by Imran.
Speaking of the JUI-F-led opposition parties’ protest in the federal capital, the premier on Friday regretted the “use of Islam for shoring up votes” as he addressed a gathering in Gilgit.
“Gone are the days when one could use Islam to gain power. This is a new Pakistan. Sit for as long as you want to. When your food runs out, we will send more. But we will not give you an NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance],” declared the premier.
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“We are celebrating your independence while an Azadi March [is ongoing in Islamabad]. Who are they wishing to gain freedom from?” he asked the crowd as people in Gilgit observed their 72nd Independence Day.
“I want the media to go there and ask people who they wish to free themselves from,” said the premier, stating that all his opponents appeared disjointed in their thoughts and aims.
He also accused Fazl of being a conspirator and said that Indian media was celebrating the march that suggested the right-wing leader was “himself an Indian national”.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam–Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman kicked off his Azadi March from Karachi on Sunday. Elaborate preparations are in place for the march as the opposition attempts to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government.
Among those elaborate arrangements were the bombproof containers of Maulana Fazlur Rehman which were specially imported from Japan for the march.
Several media outlets have shared videos that show the inside of the container. The container has been equipped with all the things Maulana will be requiring on his march. The special container is air-conditioned, has a kitchen with a stove and an oven, a bedroom for Maulana Fazlur Rehman, washrooms as well as a meeting room. The container can accommodate up to 12 people.
Meanwhile, as the ‘Azadi’ caravan was moving from Karachi to Hyderabad, the container that Maulana was travelling in, got stuck at an overhead bridge. According to reports, the 40 feet long and 10 feet wide container was too tall to pass beneath the bridge.
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) leader Senator Faisal Javed Khan poked fun at the incident and said that the containers for their dharna were “tailored according to the height of all the bridges across Pakistan.”
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has been quoted as telling Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that “there is no possibility of a minus-Imran concept”.
In an “important” meeting held between the army chief and Fazl ahead of the latter’s Azadi March, a journalist affiliated with a private media outlet quoted the COAS as saying that he stood by the constitution and democracy.
“We have been doing what the constitution asks for,” the army chief reportedly said.
Gen Bajwa reminded Fazl that he was a responsible political leader and must be aware that the regional situation is critical. “The situation on the border with India is volatile due to the Kashmir crisis and Afghanistan’s situation is also a source of trouble.”
The army chief reportedly also referred to Iran-Saudi Arabia affairs and told the JUI-F chief that it was not an appropriate time for staging the protest since the economy had been brought on the right track after herculean efforts within the country and abroad.
The COAS made it clear that they wouldn’t permit destabilisation at this moment, the anchor claimed. “He [Imran Khan] is a constitutional prime minister (PM) and neither I nor you can minus him,” he quoted Gen Bajwa as saying.
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The anchor, who further claimed that Fazl’s meeting with the COAS was “common knowledge” and was held a few days ago, was also among the media persons who called on the premier in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Speaking to senior journalists during the meeting, PM Imran had said that he wouldn’t resign under pressure from Fazl.
The JUI-F chief has threatened to block the federal capital with his protest against the “illegitimate” government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). His Azadi March, which is expected to have hundreds of thousands of participants — mainly religious hardliners from the JUI-F — is expected to enter Islamabad on October 31.