PDM chief Fazlur Rehman announces long march on March 23

Pakistan 
PDM chief Fazlur Rehman announces long march on March 23

Islamabad (Web Desk): Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also the president of anti-government alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), on Monday called on the entire nation to embark on a long march towards Islamabad on March 23 and to stage a sit-in in the federal capital which could continue till the completion of the voting process in the National Assembly.

Maulanda Fazlur Rehman made the announcement after a meeting of Opposition parties which was hosted by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif.

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The JUI-F chief said that the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party( PPP), and other opposition parteis have also been invited to partake in the "march", hoping that their response would be positive.

"Opposition's no-confidence motion against the prime minister was "in-line" with the expectations and the hopes of the Pakistani people" he said.

Fazl lashed out at the PTI-led government for going against the Opposition's no-trust move by "warning the lawmakers from going to the Parliament" and opting for "unconstitutional" tactics.

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The decision comes hours after the announcement by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to arrange a gathering of “one million people” at D-Chowk on March 27 on the eve of no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Reacting to opposition announcement, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he had already stated that the Opposition was against the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) session in Islamabad.

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"I had already said that Fazlur Rehman's real agenda was against the OIC conference. They are not able to accept that OIC foreign minister's meeting will take place here after 15 years," Chaudhry said.

The minister warned the Opposition that the government was "well aware" of how to deal with "rioters".

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Day parade is held on March 23 every year to commemorate the Lahore Resolution, which was adopted on the same day in 1940 and laid the foundation for a Muslim-majority state in South Asia.

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This year, March 23 will also coincide with Islamabad hosting the 48th OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.