Imran Khan bans anti-govt outfits ahead of protests to expel him

Aiming to weaken next week's mega protest, Pakistan has banned a little kwn organisation affiliated with Fazl-ur Rehman-led JUI-F which has planned sit-in against Imran Khan government alleging poll rigging. Ministry of Interior on Thursday issued a tification banning Ansarul Islam, saying outfit was "capable of functioning as a military organisation".

Azi March in Islamab on October 31 will be led by Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazl. All major opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party of former president Asif Ali Zardari have anunced ir support.

Fazl has demanded Imran Khan's resignation, alleging that election held on July 2018 was rigged to help his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. According to tification, " federal government through ministry of interior entrust provincial governments power to take appropriate actions under Section 2 of Private Military Organisations (Abolition and Prohibition) Act, 1974 against Ansarul Islam."

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group came to prominence after it recently held military-style pares and offered a salute to Fazl on pattern of guard of hour given to he of state. exact number of followers of group is t kwn but y must be in tens of thousands, according to government sources. members often carry large sticks (lathis or batons) and provide security to meetings of JUI-F. re is record of involvement of group in any terrorist activity.

Imran Khan's resignation

Imran Khan on October 23 said that he will t resign under pressure from opposition. On or hand, opposition plans to st a protest against Government named 'Azi March' later this month. Media reports cite Imran Khan as saying that he senses a hidden nda working behind protests. Pakistan Government on October 23 reportedly decided to let opposition's 'Azi March' protest in Islamab proceed as long as parameters laid out by courts for lawful protest are t breached. 

"re is question of my resignation and I will t resign. Dharna is nda-based, and it has foreign support. I don't understand what Maulana's problem is. I don't understand nda of opposition, " Khan said at a meeting with senior journalists and analysts.

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While Pakistan has been actively choking dissent, country's affability with designated terrorists have been put up on global display. In September, Pakistan reached out to UN Security Council with a plea to allow UN-designated terrorist and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed to access his bank account to cover 'basic living expenses.' 

"His bank account was blocked by Government of Pakistan under compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1267, requesting an asset freeze exemption to access frozen funds in amount of Rs 1.5 lakh (USD 1000 or INR 68,000) to cover necessary basic living expenses for himself and his family," Pakistan’s request to UN Security Council panel said.

(With PTI inputs)