While Pakistani Minister Threatens Missile Strike On India, An ‘Islamic Missile’ Is All Set To Strike Islamabad

Pakistan’s eccentric Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur recently warned a missile strike on India and any country backing it over Kashmir.

In the video Gandapur can be heard saying that if matters escalate towards a war, any country which supports India will automatically become Pakistan’s enemy. He adds that after firing a missile on India, Pakistan will also fire a missile on any pro-India country.

While Gandapur’s speech is being considered as an empty rhetoric aimed at pleasing Pakistan’s domestic audience, his ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party itself has a ‘missile’ coming its way.

The Missile That Is Azadi March

While the Imran Khan is trying to build a global consensus against India, consensus is building against his own government in Pakistan.

Besides Pakistani Army Chief General Bajwa exceeding his brief, the opposition parties of Pakistan have called a massive protest march against the Imran Khan government, which has been titled as - Azadi March.

This march is being predominantly led by the president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Fazal-ur-Rehman and is set to hit the streets of Islamabad on Thursday (31 October).

JUI-F is being supported by both Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan People’s Party led by Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari respectively.

At least 1 lakh protesters are expected to attend this protest rally in Islamabad after it passed through the cities of Sukkur, Multan and Lahore in the last few days.

The march has been receiving overwhelming support from the members of the opposition parties, especially the JUI-F.

Objectives And Controversies

The leaders of the Azadi March claim that the Imran Khan led government has been “selected” by the Pakistani army through rampant electoral rigging and seeks its dismissal so that free and fair elections can be held.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Imran Khan and have stated that he still has time to do the right thing.

This march though has had its share of controversies thanks to its hardline Islamic roots. The JUI-F has already barred women from participating in the rally and women journalists have also been asked to stay away from covering this event.

Voices in Pakistan have pointed out that Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s “democratic movement” has no place for the women in the country.

A dyed in the wool Islamist Maulana Rehman who is leading the march is a controversial man who is considered as the “ideological mentor” and supporter of Taliban. He was one of the first leaders to protest against the Satanic Verses written by Salman Rushdie.

His JUI-F is said to be running various Madrasas which have been used to recruit members for the terror group. The JUI-F has also been accused of facilitating religious conversions.

Back in 2008 Rehman who leads the Islamic coalition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, had implemented various radical Islamic policies like banning music on public transport in North-West Frontier Province and Balochistan.

A Nervous Imran Khan Government

A rattled Imran Khan government has made intense security arrangements to control the march. At one point of time it was even considering requesting the army to come and protect the capital.

The government and opposition though managed to sit on the negotiation table to agree to the terms and conditions of the protest. Under this agreement the government has promised to let the protest take place unhindered, as long as it is peaceful.