By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Friday said that the federal government will not create hurdles in the opposition’s protests. Sheikh Rasheed, while talking to journalists during an event at National Police Academy today, said that opposition parties have decided to arrive in Islamabad on January 19 for holding a protest outside the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
He said that the government will not create hurdles in their protests. He added that 60 to 90 days are very important in national politics.The interior minister said that he had already predicted about the opposition’s participation in forthcoming by-elections and Senate polls besides withdrawing their decision to resign from assemblies.
Rasheed said that the government is making maximum efforts to bring improvements in the law and order situation. He said that Osama Satti’s killing was a sensitive case where the life of an innocent child was claimed.
While addressing the event, the interior minister urged the police force to discharge duties with honesty besides playing its role to bring improvement in society.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has allowed Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to protest in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and directed the Interior Ministry to not be of any hindrance.
The PM gave this directive during a meeting with Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday. The political situation in the country was also discussed during the meeting.
According to sources, the Prime Minister, after consulting with the Interior Minister, allowed PDM’s planned protest in front of the Election Commission. He said that the opposition may exercise its right to protest, however, no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
Moreover, Sheikh Rashid also presented a report on his visit to Quetta and updated the PM about his meeting with the protesting Hazara community in Quetta.
On the directives of the Prime Minister, Sheikh Rashid had visited Quetta and held meeting with the representatives of Hazara community regarding the incident of killing of miners in Mach area of Balochistan. In a major development, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on January 1 announced that they will take part in upcoming by-elections.
Addressing a press conference following a hours-long meeting of the PDM’s leadership at Jati Umrah, Fazlur Rehman said that decision about taking part in Senate polls has not been made yet. He said, “PDM member parties will participate in by-polls.” Fazlur Rehman said, “PDM will hold protest demonstrations outside the offices of Election Commission of Pakistan and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Islamabad on 19th of January.”
The PDM chief said that the government was using NAB as a tool against the political rivals in the country. He maintained that the victimization of the political opponents should be stopped.
Responding to question about internal differences within the ranks of PDM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed such media reports as rumors. He maintained that all the lawmakers of the PDM member parties have submitted their resignations to their party leadership.
Earlier on December 13, Head of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had said that the opposition would march towards Islamabad at the end of January or in early February.
He had made the announcement while speaking during the PDM public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.
