Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif Thursday assured Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman of his support for October 31 ‘Azadi March’ against the government, a private TV channel reported.
The PML-N supremo assured Fazl of his support in a letter he wrote from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, the report claimed. Nawaz told the JUI-F chief that the entire PML-N leadership and its workers are with him. He said in the letter that the incumbent government was formed as a result of rigging in the 2018 general elections, adding that they stand by JUI-F until the end of the incumbent government.
The formal decision of PML-N regarding participation in the march has once again been delayed due to cancellation of meeting between former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz was scheduled to meet Nawaz at Kot Lakhpat Jail to present party recommendations on Azadi March. However, he cancelled the plan owning to backache and the doctors advised the PML-N president to take rest.
Fazl has decided to lead Azadi March from Sukkur on October 27. According to reports, the campaign will start from Sindh as the JUI-F chief faces arrest in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan due to PTI provincial governments which might affect the march at the beginning. It has been learnt that the Sindh government will help Fazl by facilitating the protestors and the march will gain momentum by the time it enters Punjab.
Meanwhile, the KP government on Thursday finalised a strategy to handle the march. A meeting of PTI parliamentary party took place in the provincial capital. KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Governor Shah Farman and PTI MPAs attended. Sources said it was decided that PTI MPAs will visit their constituencies ahead of the march to peddle awareness about its negative impacts. They will also appeal to the parents of madressah students to keep their children away from the sit-in and politics.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri to come up with a plan to cope up with the Azad March.
Sources said the prime minister has telephoned the minister and tasked him with contacting the JUI-F leadership and chalking out a plan to deal with protesters. The sources said the prime minister has sought details of the JUI-F’s plan. The prime minister also asked the minister to present recommendations with regard to the protest. The sources said the prime minster will hold consultations in a meeting in the light of recommendations presented by the religious affairs minister.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the march of Fazlur Rehman has caused chaos and infighting in PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party. PPP leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira and Moula Bux Chandio are giving different kind of statements, she said, adding Shehbaz Sharif has announced a committee while son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif gave statement going ahead of him. The clash of interests in PML-N and two narratives has created deep fissure in the party, she added.
