JUI-F’s 13-day dharna was abruptly called off in the federal capital where thousands of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s followers and activists of allied parties had been camping since November 1, calling for Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign and call fresh elections.
The protestors on Thursday blocked major arteries and highways including Hakimabad Grand Trunk (GT) road in Nowshera and Hub road in the outskirts of Karachi.
Despite Pakistan Peoples Party distancing itself from Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s ‘Plan B’ and saying that they will not allow activists to blocks roads, JUI-F protestors barricaded the highway linking Karachi with the Hub River Road.
The protest that began around 2pm forced locals to abandon their vehicles and walk home. Vehicles travelling between Sindh and Balochistan were diverted to Manghopir Road
A meeting presided by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was held to assess the situation.
According to adviser to CM and K-P spokesperson Ajmal Khan Wazir, JUI-F can use their democratic right but, protestors should not do anything which affects the everyday life of citizens.
“We did not install containers to stop anyone from going to Islamabad,” the provincial spokesperson claimed. “People of K-P have not supported JUI-F’s Azadi March.”
While addressing the press conference Wazir said that the ‘Azadi March’ participants were facilitated in every way in Islamabad.
“The Constitution allows you to hold protests but, it does not allow you to bock roads,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the state to safeguard people’s life and property. CM has ordered not to take any strict measures against the protestors.”
He also asserted that K-P government is monitoring the situation and have plan ‘A, B and C’ as well.JUI-F leadership along with protestors has blocked the GT Road near Hakimabad for traffic.
Similar protests were witnessed in Balochistan where sit-ins were staged in Khuzdar and Qila Abdullah.
