Fazlur Rehman calls off protest across country until morning

• On Thursday, Islamabad police conducted an operation inside the Parliament Lodges.
• Fazlur Rehman called a countrywide protest following the arrest of party workers and parliamentarians.
• JUI-F chief says we have completely jammed the whole country. 

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called off protest across the country until morning and demanded to release the arrested party workers including Ansar-ul-Islam volunteers, Geo News reported Friday.

The current situation developed after police yesterday had conducted an operation inside the Parliament Lodges and arrested more than a dozen Ansar-ul-Islam workers — a uniformed volunteer force of the JUI including MNA Maulana Jamaluddin, Salahuddin Ayubi and spokesperson Mufti Abdullah.

Following the arrest of party workers and parliamentarians, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called a countrywide protest and instructed party workers to stage a demonstration.

Subsequently, on Fazlur Rehman’s call, the JUI-F workers staged sit-ins in different parts of the country and blocked roads and highways.

While speaking with media outside the Parliament Lodges late night, the JUI-F chief announced to call off the protest, demanding the government release his party workers.

“If our volunteers and workers were not released till 9 in the morning, we will again come out on roads to hold a protest against the incumbent government,” he said.

"We have completely jammed the whole country, and masses are out on the roads. However, we will keep up pressure on the government."

Islamabad police arrested two JUI MNAs, several workers during an operation inside Parliament Lodges

On Thursday, Islamabad police conducted an operation inside the Parliament Lodges upon the command of the director-general of police (operations).

During the operation, the police arrested more than a dozen Ansar-ul-Islam workers — a uniformed volunteer force of the JUI.

The DIG instructed the officials to evacuate media personnel from the building as they made their way towards the lodge of Ansar-ul-Islam MNA — Salahuddin Ayubi — which was situated on the fourth floor of the building.

I am ready to surrender myself: Fazl

Earlier, following the arrests of several workers and parliamentarians, JUI chief Fazl arrived at the Parliament Lodges to surrender himself before the police.

While speaking to the press, he urged all his party workers to reach the Parliament Lodges as soon as possible.

He said that the “government wants to abduct the Opposition’s members of the National Assembly by arresting them” to reduce their numbers during the session when the no-confidence motion is moved.

“I will surrender myself along with some of my friends,” he said, urging all workers to reach Islamabad as soon as possible.

“I request all party workers to block roads and shut down businesses,” Fazl said.

According to Geo News, police have also arrested MNA Maulana Jamaluddin and spokesperson Mufti Abdullah.