KARACHI (DNA News) – After ending nearly inflexible negotiations with the government yesterday, the opposition’s anti-government long march being called as ‘Azadi March’ has begun from Karachi where the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has already finalised arrangements.

JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman is himself leading the Azadi March. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) representatives Saeed Ghani, Raza Rabbani, Awami National Party (ANP) leaders including Shahi Syed, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Muhammad Zubair and many other politicians belonging to different political parties are present in the caravan of Fazl to express their support for Azadi March.

The PPP has expressed full support for the massive demonstration being launched from Sindh – the province the party has been ruling since 2008.

The march proceeded to the Superhighway (M9) after smaller demonstrations emerged from the city’s six districts and gathered at Sohrab Goth where the JUI-F flexed its political muscles.

Fazl addressed massive gathering of the protesters at Sohrab Goth, and lashed out at the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for what he claimed “compromise” on the Kashmir dispute.

“We don’t accept the [general] elections held on July 25 and its results […] Imran Khan must resign,” he said.

“The people of Karachi have responded to our call, I thank them for it […] I appreciate workers of all [opposition] political parties,” he added.

“The government has resorted to uncivilised tactics […] after Hafiz Hamdullah’s matter of citizenship, they have arrested Mufti Kifayatullah.”

The protesters are expected to spend the night in Sukkur where arrangements have been made with facilitations by the provincial government.

All buses and other vehicles have been transported to the specified spots to kick off the massive demonstration. Strict security measures have been taken by the administration.

Fazl’s address followed beginning of rallies in many cities of the country, which are expected to join the JUI-F chief’s march towards Islamabad.

The firebrand politician has been given every facility in his container so he could address the rallies at different points during the march. Sources told DNA News that several workers of the JUI-F were being arrested from different cities.