Activists of JUI pray in their makeshift shelter during an anti-government march in Islamabad on Wednesday. Agence France-Presse

Tariq Butt

Jamiat Ulemae Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that if the Azadi Marchers move ahead, they would throw away the shipping containers, placed by the government on roads in Islamabad, like matchboxes.

“We don’t tolerate drama in the name of accountability in this country anymore,” he said, lashing out at the government for its witch hunting of political opponents.

He lashed out at the government, blaming it for disturbing the friendly ties between Pakistan and China.

“We used to be proud of our friendship with China. We used to tell people that our friendship with China was higher than the Himalayas and sweeter than honey. “Now, even China is not ready to invest in Pakistan due to our leaders’ follies.”

Rehman said that under the current economic conditions, factories were shutting down and production institutes were also being rendered useless. He said that people were losing their jobs.

“For the firs time in our history, three budgets were presented in a single year. Even then this government couldn’t take advantage of the taxes.”

He said that Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan had hit a new low while Iran was giving more respect to India as compared to Pakistan.

“There is gold, silver and priceless minerals in the mountains of Balochistan. However, the people of Balochistan do not have control over their own resources.”

The JUI-F chief wondered why anyone hadn’t protested against the Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) sit-in in 2014 but were speaking out against the Azadi March. “You will have to accept the people’s verdict. Our marchers have maintained discipline.”

He lamented that the incumbent government had increased prices of items of everyday use, petrol and other things. “Every single day that this government gets, the more we will go down.”

Rehman dispelled rumours about calling off the Azadi March in the next few days and linked it with the announcement of fresh general elections by the government. He said there would be no change in their demand for fresh elections.

“Announce fresh elections if you want us to end our sit-in.” He said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had admitted that results of 95 per cent polling stations were given without authorized signatures.

“If the ECP itself is admitting irregularities in polls, then why the government is declaring elections as fair?” Rehman said contrary to the ministers’ claims that the sit-in would end in the next couple of days they were not going to back out of their demands. He said the government would not accept rigging.

He said their future plan of action would be decided jointly by the opposition parties. “The government’s negotiating team will continue to come and go,” he said.

He said it was not an ordinary march rather it was a good omen for the future revolution and the future belonged to the people.

“If a missing person is criminal, he should be produced in the court of law,” Rehman said. He asked if the interior ministry could deny that an Israeli plane had not touched down in Pakistan adding that the Azadi March had spoiled the 40-year investment of Israel.

“How long will you hide it? We know what you have done and what you are doing now. This is not only the Azadi March, but also the precursor of an impending revolution.”

Rehman said he believed in meaningful talk stand if the government wanted to resolve the issues, then it should come up with practical proposals.

“Our basic demands be implemented after which other issues could will come under discussion.”

Meanwhile, the heavy rains that started on Tuesday night and continued throughout Wednesday multiplied miseries of the Azadi March sit-in participants in H-9 sector.

Another two protesters breathed their last bringing the death toll to three since the sit-in started on Oct.31.

One of the deceased was Maulana Saifullah belonging to Khuzdar district of Balochistan, who passed away when he woke to say Tuhajjad prayers. The other dead person was identified as Maulvi Akhtar Muhammad, who died of illness.

He hailed from Naushki district of Balochistan. On Tuesday, Abdul Kareem died due to cardiac arrest.