ISLAMABAD: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) and the incumbent federal government have failed to reach an agreement on the venue for the protest planned by the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) against the Supreme Court (SC).
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held another meeting with PDM President Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in an attempt to persuade him to change the venue of today’s protest.
After the meeting, Rana Sanaullah stated that the decision regarding the protest’s venue would be determined today (Monday) after consulting with the heads of all parties in the ruling coalition.
The decision was made based on reports provided by security agencies regarding the protest, added Sanaullah. Ishaq Dar, taking over the press conference, assured that the protests against the Supreme Court (SC) would remain peaceful.
He emphasized that there would be no violence during the protest and that the JUI-F had assured that no damage would occur.
Earlier in the day, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) rejected the government’s request to change the venue of today’s protest.
Ishaq Dar explained that the federal government wants the Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman-led PDM to hold the protest at D-Chowk instead of the Supreme Court (SC), citing a recent deterioration in the law and order situation.
PDM rejects government’s request to change venue
Maulana Fazl rejected the government’s request, stating that the venue had already been announced and the decision would be made by the nation. He confirmed that convoys had departed for Islamabad and that the PDM workers would hold a peaceful protest.
Earlier, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had sought permission from the local administration to hold a sit-in outside the Supreme Court premises in Islamabad.
The ruling coalition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), submitted an application for a public rally at Islamabad’s D-Chowk. The application stated that the PDM wished to hold a public gathering at D-Chowk on Monday at 10 am.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a former minister, and PML-N leader, confirmed the submission of the application and expressed that PML-N workers from across Islamabad would fully participate in the protest.
Maulana Fazl had announced the sit-in outside the apex court on May 12 after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was granted bail in several cases against him by the Islamabad High Court. This came a day after his release on the orders of a Supreme Court bench.
