Fazl extends sit-in, threatens to spread protest nationwide.

Byline: Amir Wasim and Kalbe Ali

ISLAMABAD -- After getting a cold response from the government to its two-day deadline for the prime minister's resignation and being deserted by major opposition parties, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday extended the ongoing sit-in at the designated H-9 venue and threatened to spread the protest throughout the country.

Providing relief to both the law enforcement agencies, which remained alert throughout the day to meet any eventuality, as well as the citizens of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, by not going ahead with his perceived threat to march towards the Red Zone, the Maulana told the charged gathering that he was trying to convene a meeting of the heads of opposition parties on Monday (today) to discuss the future course of action.

However, a number of leaders and office-bearers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), when contacted, said it was highly unlikely that their heads, Shahbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, would be able to reach Islamabad on such a short notice.

The Maulana again hinted that he had no plan to move towards D-Chowk or the Prime Minister House, but at the same time declared that 'their movement to oust the government will continue'.

'You are already in Islamabad. D-Chowk is too congested and you are in an open environment,' the Maulana said in an effort to pacify the charged people who had been asking him to announce the march towards the Red Zone.

Pointing towards the crowd, the Maulana thundered that no one could dare stop them from marching towards the PM House, if they decided to do so.

However, defending his decision of not directing his workers to march towards D-Chowk which could result in a direct clash with the law enforcement agencies despite 'incitement' by some circles, the Maulana claimed that it was his party that had so far saved the country's youth from picking up arms and kept them away from violence and aggression.

'Today a number of journalists talked to me and they described our restraint and possible retreat as a defeat. We say that we will go back, but only after making some gains and only to launch a more fierce attack,' he said.

'Today we have gathered in Islamabad. Tomorrow we will lock down the whole country and you will see it,' he said. The JUI-F chief termed the Azadi march 'Plan A' of his party, saying they also had 'Plan B' and 'Plan C'.

He hinted at a countrywide protest...

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