Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) call for a “do-or-die” protest against the current government, asserting that the Imran Khan-led party lacks a clear strategy for such a demonstration. The PTI had announced plans for a surprise protest on November 24 aimed at challenging the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government.
Recently, PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, issued a “final call” for nationwide protests. He cited alleged election rigging, arrests of party members, and the passage of the 26th Amendment as key reasons behind the call for a march to Islamabad on Sunday.
Reflecting on his party’s past efforts, Maulana Fazl recalled that JUI-F had organized 14 “historical” million-strong marches during the tenure of the PTI-led government, in addition to the Azadi March led by the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). He emphasized that these protests were carefully planned to avoid any disruptions to law and order.
While Fazl acknowledged the PTI’s right to protest, he argued that such actions would not be effective without proper planning. He stated, “It is not the right time for PTI to protest, and repeated demonstrations will lose their significance.” The JUI-F chief also noted that PTI appeared to lack competent strategists to guide its efforts.
When asked if the PTI had sought advice from JUI-F for the anti-government protests, Fazl denied any consultation. However, he expressed willingness to guide PTI if they approached him in the future.
On the state of JUI-F-PTI relations, Fazl admitted that while there had been significant tensions in the past, a return to normal relations could be a “positive political step.” He also stated that while his party had disagreements with other parties, the bitterness with PTI had been particularly intense. Still, Fazl believed both parties could foster a “good political connection” if they managed to resolve past issues.
The JUI-F leader stressed that opposition parties should unite to face common challenges and achieve collective goals through coordinated efforts.
