Protest against Imran Khan over 'failed economy' & 'poor healthcare'

Thousands of people have flocked to Karachi for partaking in what is called the “Azadi March” against the government of Pakistan. The march has been called by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) to highlight the “failures of the government of Pakistan” to deliver on its “promises made to the common people. The head of JUI-F had appealed people to oust the “incompetent government” led by Imran Khan.

Allegations against Imran Khan

Launched by Fazl-ur-Rehman, the campaign saw a huge number of people from across the country gathering in Karachi. The official protest would kick off with an address by Fazl-ur Rehman who had – earlier this week - vowed to dethrone Imran Khan accusing him of being a puppet of the Pakistan Army. He had said that Imran Khan was running an “illegitimate” government as it was not elected through a fair election.

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Opposition parties rally against Pakistan PM

The chief of one of the largest religious party had said that the 2018 election was “rigged” to favour Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaaf party hence their basic demand was Imran Khan’s resignation as he did not have the “right to rule”. Asking Khan to step down “immediately” Rehman had appealed all the opposition parties to support his campaign. The political parties of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party respectively, have extended their support for the rally against Imran Khan government.

READ | Pakistan PM Imran Khan refuses to resign ahead of anti-govt protests

'Healthcare and economy ignored'

Rehman  - who is influential particularly in rural areas and has a grip over religious schools across the country – said that the current government had failed to deliver on what it promised the people before elections. “Healthcare and economy” has been “ignored” by the people in power who had also failed to “act against the corrupt” said Rehman while sharing the details of the rally on October 24. Following the announcement of the sit-in, the Pakistan government had said that it wanted to negotiate with the opposition however a meeting on Friday 25 October could not yield any result.

Protest rally on October 31

The deadlock over the demand of the opposition to end the rally at D-Chowk in Islamabad and the government’s refusal has not left much scope for further discussion as Rehman said he did not want any “deal” with the government. Backed by major political parties, the rally will be converging in Islamabad on October 31. While the political opponents of Imran Khan have supported the march, they have also made it clear that illegal acts or acts of violence would not have their defence.

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