Explained: Fazl-ur Rehman’s ‘Azadi March’ — What’s happening in Pakistan, and why

Fazl-ur Rehman, sometimes referred to in Pakistan as “Maulana Diesel”, is the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), where the ‘F’ stands for his first name. He is a hardline, rightwing Islamist politician of the kind that often receives significant public support in Pakistan.

On Friday, rightwing cleric Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman, who is leading the protest, gave Imran, whom he referred to as the “Gorbachev of Pakistan”, an ultimatum of two days to resign.

Leaders of Pakistan’s opposition were meeting on Saturday evening to decide on the ways to intensify their agitation against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.