PDM sit-in: JUI-F protestors enter Islamabad’s red zone
Islamabad: On May 15, 2023, workers and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) entered Islamabad’s Red Zone for a sit-in outside the Supreme Court. The sit-in is a protest against the judiciary’s provision of “blanket relief” to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. The ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has geared up for the sit-in between 1 pm to 2 pm on Monday.
The chief of PDM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, announced on Friday that the sit-in would take place outside the Supreme Court against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial for facilitating Khan. The situation is peaceful, and protestors have entered the Red Zone despite Section 144 still being in effect in the federal capital. The Islamabad Police spokesperson has urged citizens to cooperate and remain calm.
Talks between JUI-F and authorities over the location of the protest have failed, and the party has vowed to hold the protest outside the Supreme Court. The district commissioner of Islamabad stated that talks with PDM are ongoing, and no final decision has been made on the protest venue yet. The caravan from Kohat has begun its journey toward the federal capital to join the sit-in.
The PDM sit-in has been a long-awaited event, and the entrance of JUI-F workers into the Red Zone marks a significant development in the protest. The protest is likely to continue until the PDM’s demands are met.
The judiciary’s provision of “blanket relief” to Khan has been a controversial issue, with many accusing the judiciary of being biased towards the ruling party. The PDM has demanded the resignation of the CJP and the implementation of judicial reforms to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
The sit-in is expected to be a test of the PDM’s strength, with many political observers waiting to see how the ruling alliance handles the protest. The entrance of JUI-F workers into the Red Zone has raised tensions, and security forces are on high alert to prevent any untoward incident from occurring.
Read More: Imran Khan claims he’ll be jailed for 10 years under the “London Plan”
The PDM’s sit-in is just one of many protests that have taken place in Pakistan over the past few years. The country has been plagued by political instability and a struggling economy, with many citizens taking to the streets to voice their dissatisfaction. PDM sit-in outside the Supreme Court is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Pakistan. The entrance of JUI-F workers into the Red Zone marks a significant escalation in the protest, and many are waiting to see how the situation unfolds.
The protest is a test of the PDM’s strength and a reflection of the country’s political and economic struggles. It remains to be seen how the ruling alliance will handle the protest and whether their demands will be met.
