ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) Friday announced to support the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan’s (TTAP) protest day on February 8 but announced to postpone the political activities they had planned on that date.
The TTAP delegation won support from JUIF supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman during their meeting with him here at his residence. Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, led the opposition alliance’s delegation during their talks with the host.
Talking to the media after their meeting, Achakzai explained while they would stick to their call for strike on February 8 whereas, JUIF wanted to take out rallies to mark the day.
“We all say and share unanimity that on February 8, the public mandate was stolen by force; the people were oppressed, black laws including the PECA Act were brought and the wings of the judiciary were clipped,” he stressed.
Achakzai said that they all condemned terrorism and the latest one and appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to ban basant. “The prime minister has done well by banning basant,” he remarked. He contended, “We will have to concede our mistakes to move forward.”
When asked if the prime minister wanted to come to him and if he had taken Maulana Fazlur Rehman into confidence on this, to which the opposition leader said that if the prime minister wanted to come to him, it was good. “If the prime minister comes, we will talk to him,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that they supported the opposition’s wheel-jam (strike) and cancelled their rallies and processions on February 8 and announced to hold their rallies and processions after February 8. He alleged that the by-elections were also being stolen and that their stance was the same that they rejected February 8 elections and demanded new elections. He expressed deep grief over the Islamabad blast.
Criticising the government’s policies, he charged that democracy is losing its case due to the legislation made by the government, whenever the country is in trouble, it is the public opinion that gets it out of trouble.
Senior PTI leader, TTAP Secretary General and former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser strongly condemned the Islamabad blast. He demanded that the Prime Minister should come to the Parliament and present a policy on terrorism.
