Fazlur Rehman’s dharna in Islamabad is creating a situation that exposes faultlines in Pakistan army, politics | The Indian Express

Fazlur Rehman’s dharna in Islamabad is creating a situation that exposes faultlines in Pakistan army, politics | The Indian Express

Written by Tilak Devasher |Updated: November 6, 2019 9:36:47 am

The writer retired as special secretary in the cabinet secretariat, Government of India.

Fazlur Rehman’s dharna in Islamabad is creating a situation that exposes faultlines in Pakistan army, politics

While the potential for a confrontation exists in case the protestors try and march into the Red Zone, the Maulana is among the most seasoned and pragmatic leaders in Pakistan and adept in making backroom deals.

The ‘Azadi March’ led by right-wing cleric Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) set off from the Sindh province on Wednedsay and reached its final destination Islamabad on Thursday midnight. (Photo: Reuters)

Islamabad is, at the time of writing, witnessing the third major dharna in recent years — that by Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his faction of the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The Maulana is pitching for Imran Khan’s resignation and fresh elections. In 2014, it was Imran Khan’s dharna and in 2017 it was that of the Barelvi Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). While the latter two did not achieve any lasting results, the jury is out on what the Maulana will accomplish. However, by all accounts, the crowd at the Maulana’s dharna, which started as the “Azadi March” from Karachi on October 27 and reached Islamabad on October 31 is massive, far surpassing the previous two. It is the first major challenge to Imran Khan’s leadership.