JUI-F kicks off long-awaited Azadi march on Islamabad.

Byline: Habib Khan Ghori and Mohammad Hussain Khan

KARACHI/HYDERABAD -- The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Sunday began its much-trumpeted Azadi march - an anti-government movement calling for resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan - from Karachi's Sohrab Goth area where a massive show of power was ensured by all opposition parties supporting the march, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Awami National Party (ANP).

The marchers, who are scheduled to enter Islamabad on Oct 31, reached Sukkur at the end of the first day of their journey. During the journey they passed through many towns and cities of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Sakrand, Nawabshah and Sanghar. However, there was a sudden change in the itinerary of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who led the marchers from Karachi to Hyderabad, and instead of moving towards Sukkur with the marchers, he went to Larkana.

According to sources, the JUI-F chief will join the marchers again in Sukkur on Monday morning.

Fazl to announce 'important decision' after reaching capital

Before the marchers began their journey from Karachi, leaders of the opposition parties supporting the anti-government march addressed them from a stage set up on a container.

They all called for resignation of PM Khan and holding of fresh elections in the country.

Maulana Fazl in his speech criticised the policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government and said that he would not budge from his demand for the prime minister's resignation. He said he would announce an important decision after the Azadi march reached Islamabad.

He said his party did not accept the PTI government as legitimate, adding that it was a product of a rigged election.

He said the 'Azadi march' would remain within the parameters of the laws of the land.

The Maulana condemned the decision of cancelling the citizenship of JUI-F's leader Hafiz Hamdullah, saying that the government ought to shame for taking such a childish decision. 'If a person is Pakhtun you declare him an Afghani.' He asked the government what was the citizenship of Shaukat Aziz who was made prime minister of the country.

He criticised the government for the arrest of another JUI-F leader, Mufti Kifayatullah, saying that such actions were being taken to provoke JUI-F workers.

The JUI-F chief also criticised the Indian government for its forces' atrocities against the people of held Kashmir. He urged international...

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