The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl on Friday called off the plans to stage countrywide protest after opposition lawmakers and the members of the Ansar-ul-Islam – the volunteer force of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl – were released by the Islamabad Police after the arrest as part of an operation in the parliament lodges on the command of capital police director general operation.

According to Aaj News, the Islamabad Police on late Thursday released the members of the Ansar-ul-Islam and opposition parliamentarians – including MNA Salahuddin Ayyubi from the Aabpara Jail in the federal capital after the submission of surety bonds and personal guarantees.

JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri also shared the development in a tweet.

“The arrested MNAs and volunteers of JUI have been released. Congratulations to all the workers. Leaders and workers of all parties and opposition parties in PDM are thanked,” he said.

The spokesperson added that the next action plan would be decided after discussions with the party leadership.

However, the Islamabad Police spokesperson has refuted claims of arresting opposition lawmakers, Salahuddin Ayyubi and Jamal Uddin. In a tweet, the spokesperson said that both the leaders were reluctant to leave the police station and they were adamant to get their workers released.

It added that the Ansar-ul-Islam was a proscribed organisation as per the October 24, 2019 directives of federal and provincial governments.

In an audio message, JUI-F chief Fazl thanked his party and opposition parties’ workers for turning up in big numbers against the arrest, as “they blocked the whole country in less than one hour.”

He congratulated the party leaders and opposition members as all MNAs and the members of the volunteer force were released. “There is no need of taking to streets now since the party leaders have been released,” he said, “please pray for thankfulness during Friday prayers.”

According to media reports on Thursday, the DIG had instructed the officials to evacuate media personnel from the building during the operation. However, the video of the incident made rounds on social media. Shortly afterwards, Ayubi’s staff and police personnel started a clash. Several parliamentarians of the PPP and PML-N were also present in the lodges.

Following the incident JUI chief Fazl arrived at the Parliament Lodges, along with other opposition leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, to surrender himself before the police.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had warned that his party workers would take to the streets if members of the volunteer force were not released till Friday 9am and decided to temporarily halt the protest.

Reacting to the development, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the JUI-F workers were released after "apologising" apparently to police. He claimed that the incident has exposed the "fake intellectuals".

"A specific mafia group has gathered for their vested interests," he said.

Red Zone sealed

Moreover, the federal capital police have three routes leading to the Red Zone by placing barbed wires and blocks on D-Chowk and Nadra Chowk, Aaj News reported.

Police have also blocked the route to Parliament Lodges, prompting the JUI-F workers to protest, as the National Assembly is expected to meet on March 14 for the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to the sources, the National Assembly Secretariat suggested to the National Assembly speaker that three days should be fixed for debate on the no-confidence motion and voting should be held on March 18.