Islamabad: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the opposition's movement would no longer be directed only at the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government but also "his backers". The opposition alliance chief said that rifts within the PDM are a campaign run by the media and added that the PDM is more determined to rid the country of Imran Khan and his illegitimate government.
After a meeting of PDM leaders in Raiwind, Rehman said it was decided after detailed discussions that the opposition will participate in the upcoming by-elections but there had been no decision on contesting in the Senate elections. "In principle, we are not opposed to the elections of any institution but there is some time until Senate polls," he said, adding that the final decision will be taken in future PDM meetings while keeping in view the prevailing conditions.
"PDM has come out stronger than before and is more determined than before to rid the nation of this illegitimate government," said Rehman and added that all PDM constituent parties had reported to the meeting that the resignations of "all" opposition lawmakers had reached their party leaderships, in accordance with the Dec 31 date given for this purpose by the alliance, as reported by Dawn.
"So one of the targets has been achieved today," he said, reiterating that the government had one month to resign. Rehman said if the premier refused to step down by January 31, the PDM leadership will announce the long march to Islamabad and decide its date. "It will also decide whether the long march should be staged towards Islamabad or to Rawalpindi," Rehman added. Rawalpindi is a metonym for the headquarters of the Pakistan Army.
"We agree that the establishment has held the entire system hostage by turning Pakistan into a deep state. Imran Khan is a pawn and the people who did rigging and imposed him upon the nation, we want to make it clear to them that we blame the establishment and army leadership for this," the PDM chief said.
He continued: "The direction of our criticism will now be manifestly aimed at them (establishment). Now it is for them to decide whether they will further sink their claws on Pakistan's politics or retreat and move towards their constitutional responsibilities."
The PDM chief said that the alliance considered the army "as our army" and it respected all generals. "But when this defence power interferes in politics forgoing its professional duties, it creates confusions". "All parties are unanimous that the movement's direction should not be turned only towards the pawn but also against his backers," he said further.
He announced that the alliance would stage a demonstration in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan offices in Islamabad on January 19, while a similar protest was being planned to be held in front of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) headquarters as well. According to Dawn, Rehman said that all opposition members summoned by NAB had appeared before it but said that "it has been proven that this is not accountability but revenge".
Imran govt won't resign: Qureshi
Even as the PDM intensifies its campaign to oust the Imran govt from power, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi remained adamant that the government will not resign on January 31 as demanded by the Opposition alliance. "PM Imran Khan enjoys the confidence of the National Assembly. Why would he resign on the Opposition's demand?" Qureshi, who is also the PTI's senior vice-chairperson, said. He said that the PDM had earlier announced to resign from the assemblies on December 31, but the date passed. "The public has realised the Opposition's true agenda and their jalsas do not have that strength," Qureshi said and further claimed that the PDM will contest the Senate elections and by-polls. However, Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz vice president Maryam Nawaz said that the PDM will not contest the upper-house elections without consensus.
