Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Ministers Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail along KP Minister Atif Khan mocks Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman Azadi March. Tourism Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Atif Khan on Friday said Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman has become jobless after 17 long years. Addressing a news conference in Mardan, the minister said the PTI government has nothing to do with the corruption cases, the cases were lodged by opposition parties against each other in the past. Taking a jibe at JUI-F chief, the minister said, Fazal-ur-Rehman is not worried about Islam, but Islamabad. He advised him to have some patience as he enjoyed power for 30 years. Replying to a question, Atif Khan said, peaceful protest is right of the opposition parties, but the law will take its due course of action, in case of any violation.
Earlier in the day, the Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, welcoming the call of protest by JUI-F chief had said the PTI government will facilitate him in setting up the arrangements for the sit-in.
“Beds for Maulana have been set-up in the Adiala Jail”, he had said while talking to the newsmen in Karachi.The JUI-F chief while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday (yesterday), had announced to hold ‘Azadi March’ in Islamabad from October 27.
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Friday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was not afraid of protests announced by Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehaman.
Speaking to the media, he said the government would complete its five-year tenure, adding that the JUI-F leader would face resistance if he disrupts the political system. He said the PTI government would not be blackmailed by threats of million marches. The minister said the JUI-F chief had always protested against the democratic system and he wanted justice by holding protests on the roads rather than approaching the court. He said the country has already rejected “these corrupt elements” in the elections, and that such elements were now taking revenge from the country by announcing lock-downs against a democratic government. The minister said people would support the stance of Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding the rule of law and the Constitution.
Rasheed said the proposed Azadi March call by Rehman in Islamabad has failed to receive the support of other opposition parties and will most likely result in a failure. He suggested that Rehman should not use his seminary students for the sack of his political gains. He assured that Pakistan People’s Party leader Bilawal Bhutto will not join the Azadi March and that Rehman is taking a solo flight without the support of other opposition parties. He said the JUI-F chief is disappointed already over the failure of his Azadi March. He said the whole plan of lockdown is aimed at protecting their own survival which is now at risk due to exposure of their corrupt practices. He said the prime minister had been given popular mandate by the people on the pledge of holding corrupt elements accountable. He said those involved in corruption would be taken to task. The minister said across-the-board accountability against corruption will not stop as the government is not afraid of the opposition’s lockdowns and alliances.
The minister said the government is currently focused on getting the country out of the economic crisis as soon as possible, and that the whole nation will see its results in a few months. In addition, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has on Friday said that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman wants to topple the incumbent government but his wish will not be fulfilled.
