The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) is considering Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) six preconditions for joining the 'Azadi march' scheduled for October with the objective of sending the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) packing.
Talking to Business Recorder, JUI-F spokesperson Mufti Abrar said the PPP had agreed to launch a campaign against the PTI government but there were differences on the mode of protest. He said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on September 18 presented six pre-conditions namely (i) ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution and democracy, (ii) upholding the 18th Constitutional Amendment and reforms in the accountability process to ensure across-the-board accountability, (iii) setting up a constitutional court in line with the Charter of Democracy signed between the PPP and the PML-N in May 2006, (iv) repeal of the 19th Amendment, (v) reforms in Article 184(3) of the Constitution that allow judges to take suo motu action, and (vi) protection of the right of freedom of speech and press.
The JUI-F spokesperson said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had no objection to PPP preconditions adding that Maulana had already talked about the supremacy of Parliament and Constitution.
The spokesman stated that JUI-F leader and convener of the opposition's Rahbar Committee Akram Durrani discussed these preconditions with PPP leaders Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari and Sherry Rehman in a meeting held at Parliament House on Wednesday last adding that now Akram Durrani would apprise the JUI-F chief of his meeting with the PPP leaders.
He said the demands of the PPP would also be discussed in coming meeting of the Rahbar Committee which was likely to be held next week when matters would be finalized. PPP leader and former chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari told this correspondent that "we had discussed various proposals regarding the mode of protest against the government with JUI-F leaders and would now brief our respective leadership."
He said the JUI-F and PPP had reached complete consensus on one agenda item: "We have to send this government home but the method of accomplishing this objective is still open to discussion." He said that discussions on the modalities would continue. Another PPP senior leader Naveed Chaudhry said the PPP would continue to extend moral and political support to JUI-F protest against the government. He said that a committee constituted by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto was negotiating with JUI-F leadership to launch a joint opposition protest against the government.
He said PPP had reservations about the JUI-F using the 'religious card' for political purposes.
JUI-F Spokesperson Mufti Abrar accused the PPP of resorting to excuses in order to avoid participation in the opposition's proposed long march to Islamabad. He categorically dismissed the speculation that his party was using the 'religious card' to gather support for political purposes. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also convened a meeting of its central executive committee on Monday (September 30) to discuss the possibilities of joining the JUI-F's "long march."
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