JI ends ‘Haq Do Balochistan’ long march after talks with govt

LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) “Haq Do Balochistan Long March” will now conclude in Lahore after successful negotiations between the party leadership and the Punjab government.

The decision marks a significant de-escalation after days of rising tensions in the provincial capital.

Following talks between government officials and JI leaders on Wednesday, it was agreed that the march, originally planned to proceed to Islamabad, would instead be halted in Lahore.

An eight-member JI delegation will now travel to Islamabad to meet with federal government representatives, after which a formal announcement will be made regarding the conclusion of the march.

Speaking to the media after the breakthrough, JI Naib Ameer Liaqat Baloch and Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb jointly announced the development.

Liaqat Baloch stated that the government had requested JI to stop the long march participants arriving from Balochistan in Lahore rather than letting them continue to Islamabad.

He confirmed that the long march participants will now camp in Lahore, pending the outcome of JI’s upcoming discussions with federal authorities.

Marriyum Aurangzeb, present at the media briefing, expressed her gratitude to JI’s leadership for their cooperation and willingness to engage in dialogue, praising their decision.

Earlier in the day, the situation had grown tense when JI workers attempted to leave their Mansoorah headquarters to begin the march, only to be blocked by a large contingent of police deployed in the area.

Today morning, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) “Haq Do Balochistan Long March” took a turbulent turn in Lahore as party workers attempted to exit their headquarters in Mansoorah but failed as a heavy contingent of police cordoned off the area.

According to the report, the protest gained intensity when JI workers tried to proceed with their planned march. A scuffle broke out between the demonstrators and the police, which quickly escalated into physical altercations.

In response, police authorities sealed the road leading from Multan Chungi to Mansoorah and deployed a heavy contingent of policemen outside the JI headquarters at Multan Road, Lahore.

To reinforce security, police placed some prison vans and water cannon vehicles around Mansoorah as a precautionary measure to prevent the situation from spiralling further out of control.

Despite the group’s initial plans to march toward Islamabad, the caravan remains stranded in Mansoorah. The long march has so far failed to depart, while negotiations between a government delegation and JI leaders enter a second round.

As per the report, the government representatives and the JI leaders were engaged in talks regarding the possibility of concluding the protest in Lahore instead of continuing it to the federal capital.

Meanwhile, a heavy police presence remains stationed around the area, with security vehicles on standby. Authorities are not allowing any workers to exit the premises (Mansoorah headquarters) under any circumstances, further intensifying the standoff.

It is pertinent to mention here that a week ago, on July 23, Naib Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Liaqat Baloch, held a significant meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and discussed the overall political climate in the country.

Moreover, just four days ago, on July 26, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif had a telephonic conversation with JI Chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman.

The Prime Minister lauded the humanitarian efforts of Jamaat-e-Islami and its welfare wing, Al-Khidmat Foundation, in sending aid to the victims of Gaza.

During the call, Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the intensifying and brutal Zionist attacks on Palestinians and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to stand with the people of Gaza on every international platform.

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman conveyed that Palestinian leaders had personally reached out to him, urging the Prime Minister of Pakistan to play a central role in advocating for a ceasefire and ensuring food aid reaches Gaza. NNI