Opposition joins February 8 protest and condemns Islamabad explosion

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 (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 support the February 8 lockdown and jam strike announced by the movement.

“We support your call on February 8 to lock the wheels and close, and if our party has planned any demonstration or procession, we will cancel it, or if it cannot be canceled, we will hold it at such a time that it will not affect the traffic jam or closure,” he said.

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

“Our demand is one, our position is one. The manipulation occurred on February 8 and we have opposed this manipulation from day one, and we all have the same position,” he said.

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

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

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

He called the incident a failure to ensure peace and said authorities should accept their mistake. “We were shouting that this is the situation in KP 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 weaken and wanted to see it strong, adding that while national defense was important, the hardships faced by the people for several decades had yet to see significant changes.

On the occasion, Achakzai said that the opposition had expressed concern in February over alleged manipulation of the public mandate. He said that “at gunpoint, through pressure from the courts, money and force, the minds of 250 million people everywhere were changed,” adding that those who protested against the manipulation were then subjected to violence and legal action.

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

He said there was consensus among the opposition parties to protest against the government in a democratic manner and they had asked Maulana Fazl to show accommodation regarding the February 8 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 by the government, by any individual, by any party or by any group,” he said.

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

He reiterated calls for a round table in which all institutions participate to chart a path forward. “This is our country; we want to save it and manage it,” he said, adding that the country could only function when power rests with an elected parliament and policies are formulated there.

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

Responding to a journalist’s question on whether he had confided in the JUI-F chief 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. We have to govern 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.