Opposition to quit assemblies

PDM lawmakers told to submit resignations to party heads by Dec 31

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an 11-party opposition alliance, on Tuesday announced that all parliamentarians belonging to its constituent parties would submit their resignations from the national and provincial assemblies to their respective party chiefs by December 31 – finally opting for a last-ditch attempt to send the PTI-led government packing.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the PDM, made the announcement at a news conference in Islamabad accompanied by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz after the leadership of the alliance held a meeting to agree on the opposition’s future course of action.

Former premier Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the PML-N, and former president Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the PPP, participated in the meeting via video-link.

“Opposition lawmakers from the national and provincial assemblies will submit their resignations to their party heads by December 31,”the Maulana said, ruling out any possibility of engaging in a dialogue with the PTI government.

The JUI-F chief added that the PDM’s steering committee would hold a meeting on Wednesday (today) to decide when the joint opposition would stage its anti-government long march on Islamabad. “The opposition parties will also hold protest demonstrations across the country.”

The Maulana reiterated that the alliance would hold its “historic rally” at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on December 13 come what may and warned the PTI government against creating any hurdles for the opposition parties.

He said the decision to resign from the assemblies en masse was made "unanimously" by the constituent parties of the PDM. “The opposition will not disappoint the nation."

The PDM president said the opposition parties would not withdraw their resignations like the PTI did in 2014.

Speaking about reports that Prime Minister Imran Khan sought a national dialogue with the opposition, the JUI-F chief said the PDM rejected the offer.

“He is not worthy of a dialogue. We will not give him an NRO,” he maintained.

In a recent interview, PM Imran said he would give up his office but not give an NRO (relief in corruption cases) to the opposition.

Responding to a question, Fazl said the government had been “shaken” by the PDM’s series of rallies and “now it only needs a final push to collapse”.

Speaking to the media in Jati Umra before leaving for Islamabad, Maryam said the government was so scared that it had registered thousands of cases against opposition activists and supporters.

The PML-N leader added that she was not afraid of being arrested. “The movement will be spearheaded by our supporters if I am arrested.”