Opposition joins hands for Feb 8 protest, condemns Islamabad blast

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday announced his party’s support for the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan’s (TTAP) protest scheduled for February 8, saying all opposition parties shared the same stance that the 2024 general elections were rigged.

Addressing a press conference alongside TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Maulana Fazl said his party would fully back the February 8 wheel-jam and shutter-down strike announced by the movement.

“We support their February 8 wheel-jam and shutter-down appeal, and if our party has planned any rally or procession, we will cancel it, or if it cannot be cancelled, we will hold it at such a time that it does not affect the wheel-jam or shutter-down,” he said..

He said JUI-F would also align its programmes with the protest schedule announced by TTAP.

“Our demand is one, our stance is one. Rigging took place on February 8, and we have been sitting in opposition against this rigging from day one, and we all have the same stance,” he said.

Criticising the role of the establishment, Maulana Fazl said its attitude had not changed even after the elections. He said the same conduct had continued in subsequent by-elections.

“We are firm on our position, and our stance on this issue is also one. Just as we rejected the February 8, 2024 elections on that very day, we remain firm on that stance today as well. Even today, we reject it and demand fresh elections,” he added.

Condemning the suicide attack at an imambargah in Islamabad, the JUI-F chief expressed deep sorrow and extended sympathy and solidarity to the families of the martyrs and the injured.

He termed the incident a failure in ensuring peace and said the authorities should accept their mistake. “We were crying that this is the situation in K-P or this is the situation in Balochistan … the entire state has become helpless,” he said.

He said his party did not want the state to become weak and wanted to see it strong, adding that while national defence was important, the hardships faced by people over several decades had yet to see meaningful change.

Speaking on the occasion, Achakzai said the opposition had raised concerns in February over alleged manipulation of the public mandate. He said that “at gunpoint, through the pressure of courts, money, and force, the opinion of 250 million people was changed everywhere,” adding that those who protested against rigging were later subjected to violence and legal action.

He said thousands of people had FIRs registered against them and also condemned recent judicial amendments, saying the judiciary’s authority had been curtailed and voices silenced under the PECA Act.

He said there was consensus among opposition parties to protest against the government in a democratic manner and that they had requested Maulana Fazl to show accommodation regarding the February 8 wheel-jam strike, for which he expressed gratitude.

Achakzai, who is also the leader of the opposition in the national assembly, also condemned the Islamabad attack and said all forms of terrorism were unacceptable. “We condemn all forms of terrorism, whether it is from the government, from any individual, any party, or any group,” he said.

He said terrorism was not limited to one region but affected the entire world, adding that associating terrorism with Islam and humanity was dangerous. “The Holy Quran considers the killing of one human being as the killing of all humanity. We are such people; we follow such a religion,” he said.

He reiterated calls for a roundtable conference involving all institutions to chart a way forward. “This is our country; we want to save it and run it,” he said, adding that the country could only function when power rested with an elected parliament and policies were formulated there.

Praising the security forces and agencies for their sacrifices, he said civilian supremacy was essential for the proper functioning of institutions, warning that failure to ensure it could lead to serious consequences.

Responding to a journalist’s question about whether the JUI-F chief had been taken into confidence regarding the prime minister’s proposed visit, Achakzai said it would be a positive development if the prime minister wished to meet him.

“There is nothing wrong with it. We will meet one another. We have to run this country. We will have to show courage and accept our mistakes. We have no permanent enmity with anyone. This country belongs to all of us collectively,” he said.