PDM to fizzle out by January, says Fawad

Says movement will lose strength after Sharif’s return

ISLAMABAD:

Amid the ongoing opposition-government tussle, Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said the Pakistan Democratic Movement – the grand opposition alliance –would “blow over” in January.

Talking to Express News, he said: “The way opposition’s movement is moving forward, I believe it won’t sustain long. In January, the PDM will fizzle out. The movement will lose its strength till after the return of Nawaz Sharif by Jan 15.”

After a multi-party confab on September 20, the opposition parties had announced to form the PDM to oust the government in the wake of prevailing issues and “damaged economy”. As per their “action plan”, a three-phased anti-government movement started this month with countrywide public meetings, protest demonstrations and rallies would continue till December. Later, a “decisive long march” would be led towards Islamabad in January 2021.

“There is no strength in the PDM... it is failing even before getting started. Because of this movement, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief is being exposed in front of the public,” Fawad said.

Contrary to the large crowds being seen on PDM power shows, the minister claimed that the general public was not even coming to the demonstrations that according to him has disappointed the ranks of the opposition.

On Sunday, the grand opposition alliance gathered in Quetta as part of its series of demonstrations across the country. The opposition leaders alleged that the incumbent government had destroyed the country’s economy and key sectors.

“As the disappointment is growing, the PPP is separating from the PML-N and the JUI-F,” Fawad said, who like other ministers have been critical of the opposition leaders’ speeches.

On the growing demand for the government and PM Imran’s ouster, the minister said the whole leadership of the opposition would leave the ground. “Opposition’s internal rifts will start increasing as soon as their own rhetoric will get weak. Opposition’s supporters don’t accept their leaders’ rhetoric,” he added.

He was of the view that the recent PML-N parliamentary party meeting, which was attended by as many as 28 leaders, has laid bare the stature of the party before everyone. The leaders had condemned the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's speeches.

Other ministers have reacted in the same tone as Fawad and berated the PDM that defied the terror threat to stage the Quetta rally.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari accused the opposition of peddling the Indian narrative while criticising the speech of a leader.

“So [Ajit] Doval threatens hybrid war and LOC inside Pakistan and suddenly PDM’s Noorani talks of breaking away Balochistan, Maryam discusses issues of enforced disappearance(s) while Nawaz Sharif seeks to sow mutiny in (the) armed forces,” she said in a tweet.

“Is it just a coincidental unity of purpose between India’s NSA and PDM?” Mazari questioned.

Moreover, Information Minister Shibli Faraz alleged that some political parties under the garb of their vested interests are making a mistake to incite the public against national institutions. He claimed that efforts are under way to distract the public.

“Because of their vested interests, some political parties are making a mistake by inciting the public against the national institutions, which is a base for any country’s security and development,” Shibli said.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi has said the PDM “circus” has unveiled their “true goals; just to save their looted wealth”.

In a series of tweets, the minister alleged that the opposition parties are trying to blackmail and damage Pakistan by following “Modi-Doval agenda”, attack the country’s armed forces and support separatist voices demanding independence.

“Shockingly, none of the major PDM circus leaders uttered a word of condemnation against the oppression of Kashmiris by Modi and Indian army,” he said, “I guess they don’t want to upset their puppet masters.”

Zaidi added that it’s been a week since PML-N leader Capt (retd) Safdar Awan and other PML-N leaders “desecrated the sanctity” of the Mazar-e-Quaid. “Till now no apology or remorse shown by the PML-N or the bandit queen Maryam Nawaz,” he said, adding that they think that they have a “higher status than the Father of the Nation! It’s just Shameless”.