Maulana Fazl calls off strike as govt frees MNAs, JUI-F activists

The somewhat pacified JUI-F Head, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has asked his activists to stay calm as the administration has released opposition MNAs and other arrested workers in the wee hours of today (Friday) urging them there is no need of protest, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

While talking to 24NewsHD TV channel, the Maulana said that there was no need for protest as the government had retreated and released his workers and MNAs. He expressed his resolve that the opposition would send this government packing through the no-confidence motion. 

He deplored the way the police dragged the members of the National Assembly and arrested them saying that it was the height of their ruthlessness. 

“And on top of it, the administration presented the whole affair to the public in a wrong way,” he rued.

Maulana Fazl said that acting in the nick of time, the opposition parties and JUI-F workers jammed the whole country which made the administration give in and police freed their MNAs and activists today at 4am.

All workers were released on personal surety bonds.

While appreciating the support of people from across the country and Jamiat’s activists, the Maulana appealed to them to call off today’s strike and stay peaceful.

He asked them to pray to Allah to rid the nation of this inept government in their Juma prayers. 

Islamabad police yesterday night broke open the lock of MNA Salahuddin’s lodge. They allegedly subjected Kamran Murtaza to torture. They also manhandled Agha Rafi. PML-N MNA Saad Rafiq also got injured during the police manhandling. 

Infuriated at the arrest of his workers and MNAs who courted arrest on their own in protest, the Maulana gave a countrywide strike call against the police action at the parliament lodges.

He made the announcement during a media talk on Thursday night as he reached the parliament lodges to court his arrest after lawmen manhandled lawmakers resisting their bid to take out the members of Ansarul Islam, a JUI wing. 

The JUI wing was deployed at the parliament lodges to ensure the security of the parliamentarians during the no-confidence motion proceedings as the Maulana said he had no confidence in the police which were under government control. He claimed that he had reports that MNAs would be abducted.

According to the government, 50 persons got in the parliament lodges on just 10 entry passes. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said the police action was taken after a five-hour dialogue.

The federal capital police chief took notice of the entry of JUI wing persons and suspended the cops concerned. Police took 30 minutes to clear the area of Ansarul Islam.

They arrested 18 people. MNAs Salahuddin Ayubi and Jamaluddin while courting arrest went to Aabpara police station. Police allegedly barged into the lodges of Saad Rafiq, Salahuddin and Kamran Murtaza, and other MPs.

PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq seconded the JUI chief and called the police action unlawful.

Maulana Fazl who called off strike today, threatened the government yesterday that the opposition would jam the whole country and they would not budge on it. He also warned the government that they would lay siege to the Prime Minister's House. 

The Maulana’s threat worked wonders and the government released JUI-F workers and MNAs in the wee hours today.

Interior Minister Sh Rashid who was hurling threats last night kept mum today as the arrest was illegal. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the opposition has been raising an alarm that their MNAs might be abducted before the tabling of the no-confidence motion.

The JUI-F spokesperson thanked the leaders and members of all parties that are part of the PDM and other opposition outfits for their support. He hinted at formulating a new future strategy after consultation with the party leadership.

JUI-F workers reach Fazl’s residence after release

All the workers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), who had been arrested by Islamabad police for entering Parliament lodges on late Thursday night, reached the residence of party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman after their release on Friday (today), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The JUI-F chief welcomed the party workers and showered them with praises for their determination to stand by the stance of the party in difficult times.

It is to be noted here that political temperature had climbed up in the country after the Islamabad police arrested a lawmaker of the JUI-F and many of its workers from the Parliament lodges amid the sizzling environment of no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

Reporter: Usman Khan