ISLAMABAD: Presence of Afghan Taliban flags in visible numbers at the Jamiat Ulma e Islam (JUI-F) protest in federal capital raised eye brows and steered another controversy on Friday.
Among thousands of JUI-F supporters, some were spotted carrying Afghan Taliban flags. They are camped in a ground adjacent to Kashmir Highway-hardly few kilometers away from the area tagged ‘red zone’ where country’s most important institutions and foreign embassies are located.
JUI-F leader Molana Abdulghafoor Haidri disowned the people carrying them saying his party has no link with these flags. “There are supporters of nine different political parties participating in Azadi March and you can find different flags”, said Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri.
The flags inscribed; “The Imarat e Islami Afghanistan” are used by Afghan Taliban. Young men in typical Taliban attire carrying them were spotted near the container used as podium by leaders of opposition parties to make speeches and announcements.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad claimed arresting the accused carrying Taliban flags. However these flags were still on display after commissioner’s claim on twitter. They disappeared from the scene, only after the issue was brought to the notice of JUI-F leaders.
When this scribe tried to interview the young men carrying Taliban flags, they were immediately whisked away by some people who looked Taliban commanders in appearance. Anger in their eyes against my attempt insinuated sensitivity of the situation.
A participant of the protest admitted presence of many ‘’Mujahedeen’’ in JUI-F Azadi March. He declined to identify himself. JUI-F protest march started from Karachi on October 27. Convoys from different areas of Balochistan and Sindh kept joining the protestors when they entered in Punjab. They were also joined by people from KPK when protestors reached Islamabad on October 31st night.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on October 1st announced to convert protest march into sit-in to press his demands that include; resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, holding of fresh elections with no involvement of military in the poll process.
He gave two days time to the government to meet his demands. The ultimatum expires on Sunday.
Most of the protestors have come from remote areas of Balochistan, Sindh KPK where JUI-F has its support base and due to huge network of seminaries supporting it.
Many of the Taliban leaders and Afghan Mujahedeen who fought war against Soviet Union in 1970’s and 80’s and against US recently, received education from Deobnad seminaries-the sect JUI-F leaders follow.
JUI-F had been against foreign invaders in Afghanistan however, it did not supported militancy in Pakistan and had been participating in elections process regularly. JUI-F chief and many others from his party survived several suicide attacks.
It remained part of the government several times in center and provinces. However, it refused to accept results of July 2018 elections that brought Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI) into power. JUI-F and other opposition parties claim PTI has been brought into power through a manipulated election process insinuating role of powerful military establishment.
Among the protestors are hundreds of activists of Ansar ul Islam whom incumbent government considers a potential militant outfit. However, JUI-F claims it is a volunteer force assigned security and discipline of the protest campaign.
The government wants to confine protestors to the allocated space. District administration had signed an agreement with JUI-F before allowing them to stage their protest in the capital city. The main clause of the covenant is limiting the protestors in the ground allocated to them and to remain peaceful.
Violence cannot be ruled out if the venue of the protest is changed by JUI-F and its allied opposition groups to exert more pressure on the government to press their demands. Government has been warning of strict action in case of violation of agreed terms and conditions of the protest.
Presence of Afghan Taliban in Pakistan is reported in international media in the past. The country was accused of sheltering them in the past when US invaded Afghanistan after 9/11 and toppled Taliban government.
Taliban gradually re-surged in Afghanistan and gradually took control of major parts of the country.
During the past few years US and other regional powers have been engaged in talks with Taliban. Now they are considered important stakeholders in the Afghan peace process.
It is probably the first time Afghan Taliban flags were displayed in the heart of federal capital city, albeit by participants of the protest that has been staged to change government in Pakistan. No official word has come from government quarters so far over this move.
Read: Fazl sets two-day deadline for PM Khan to resign
