JUI Protest Across Balochistan Against Drone Surveillance of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Residence and Attack on Senator Kamran Murtaza’s House

QUETTA (Daily Qudrat): On the special directions of JUI Balochistan Provincial Ameer Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey, strong protest demonstrations, rallies and gatherings were held in all district headquarters across the province, including Quetta, Khuzdar, Awaran, Musakhel, Harnai, Lasbela, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Chaman, Pishin, Kalat, Mastung and Kohlu, against the aerial filming of JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s private residence by drone, its broadcast on social media, the violation of the sanctity of private space and the organised character assassination campaign against him. A large number of JUI office-bearers, workers, scholars, tribal elders and citizens participated in these gatherings and expressed unwavering solidarity with the JUI chief.

Despite Section 144 imposed by the district administration in several districts and obstacles, workers recorded their protest in full force through peaceful democratic conduct. In Khuzdar, the protest rally passed through various highways and turned into a gathering at Azadi Chowk, while in Musakhel the rally set off from the district secretariat and took the form of a sit-in at Kangri Mor. In Harnai, Lasbela, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Nasirabad and Chaman as well, hundreds of workers came onto the streets.

Addressing the protesters, the speakers said that JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a first-rank religious and political personality of the country who has always fought for the supremacy of the Constitution, democracy, parliamentary autonomy and public rights. Illegal surveillance of his private residence through drone and making its video and circulating it on social media can by no means be tolerated in any civilised and democratic state. The sanctity of private space is the basic constitutional right of every citizen, and such unethical interference in anyone’s private life is an open violation of the country’s laws.

The speakers said that answering political disagreement through petty character assassination and targeting private life, instead of through political dialogue and argument, reflects the intellectual defeat of the rulers and state institutions. They demanded that a prompt, independent and transparent judicial investigation be conducted into the incident and the elements behind it be exposed.

Along with this, the speakers strongly condemned the harassment of JUI central leader Senator Kamran Murtaza Advocate’s family, the closure of his brother’s business and the withdrawal of security, and made clear that using the state machinery as a weapon of political revenge should be stopped. They made clear that JUI workers are fully prepared to respond to every decision of their leadership and will not hesitate in any sacrifice.