Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has urged the government to allow Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to hold a peaceful protest, describing the right to demonstrate as a democratic entitlement enjoyed by political parties.
Speaking to the media alongside opposition leaders outside his residence, Fazl said the government should trust PTI’s assurances that its protest would remain peaceful. He said political parties’ commitments to peaceful demonstrations should be respected.
His remarks came as the government took measures to prevent PTI protesters from entering Islamabad.
A delegation of opposition leaders, including Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Akhundzada Hussain and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, visited Fazlur Rahman’s residence. JUI-F leaders, including Senator Kamran Murtaza, were also present.
Fazl said talks between the government and opposition could have produced results if, in his view, “behind-the-scenes forces” had not become involved. He stressed that meaningful dialogue required both sides to demonstrate flexibility and make compromises.
The JUI-F chief said democratic and political forces believed in resolving disputes through dialogue. He added that opposition parties had held consultations in parliament, while the government’s approach towards the opposition was evident.
Responding to questions about allegations concerning PTI members’ loyalty to the country, Fazl said all Pakistanis were patriotic and committed to the Constitution and state. He called for maintaining balance in the country’s political environment.
Fazl also confirmed that he had been invited by opposition parties to attend a multi-party conference. He said the proposal would be discussed within the JUI-F before a decision was taken, adding that consultations among political parties should lead to a jointly agreed agenda.
Fazl also criticised calls for another anti-terrorism operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying military operations had previously been conducted from Swat to Waziristan but had failed to enable many residents to return to their homes amid continued unrest.
He said law and order problems had severely affected the functioning of the provincial government and warned that the security situation in KP was continuing to deteriorate.
“How long will we continue to conduct operations on the pretext of fighting terrorism?” he questioned.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the opposition delegation had visited Fazlur Rahman after his return from Umrah to congratulate him and invite him to the multi-party conference.
He said political forces could not remain indifferent to the country’s challenges and called for a consensus-based agenda developed through consultation among all parties.
Nasir Abbas said extremist tendencies could grow when political processes were disrupted. He added that Fazlur Rahman had opposed the imposition of governor’s rule and a state of emergency in KP.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said coercive measures had widened the gap between the public and the state. He described Imran Khan’s political struggle as a campaign for constitutional supremacy and the rule of law and expressed confidence that the movement would succeed.
