Fazl rules out change in march plan.

Byline: Maula Bux Kalhoro

LARKANA -- Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), has ruled out any change in the schedule of 'Azadi March' 'come what may'.

Talking to journalists at Gulshan-i-Shaheed Jamia Islamia on Friday, he said the houses of his party's central committee members and those of provincial leaders were being raided throughout the country.

The Maulana said he was not hopeful about the success of talks being held with the government.

'If barricades and other obstacles are placed, it will trigger clashes. But come what may, the march will take place. No matter if highways remain closed for one month, we will move to Islamabad,' the JUI-F chief expressed his resolve.

He accused the government of harassing transporters, small shopkeepers and petrol pump owners.

About the ban on Ansar-ul-Islam Organisation, Maulana Fazl said it was an old volunteer organisation and part of the JUI-F since long. 'I reject this notification and announce defying the ban.'

On one hand, the government talked about 'threats to my life' and, on the other, it had banned Ansar-ul-Islam, he regretted.

Maulana Fazl said other political and religious parties had their volunteer wings like Ahrar-ul-Islam, Khaksar Tehreek and even the Quaid-i-Azam had Muslim Guards.

He called upon the government to 'look after the armed organisations under your wings', referring to a video which purportedly showed that Peshawar's deputy commissioner had granted permission for such a body.

In reply to a question, the JUI-F chief did not rule out the possibility of a meeting with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whom he phoned during his stay in Sindh.

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