PDM politics

Frankly speaking, PDM is reduced to a confused lot after the failure of its much-trumpeted Lahore show on December 13. The 10-party opposition alliance now looks like a marriage union that is only intact for avoiding embarrassment in social circles. There is no unanimity of thought, or of action. An agreement on a joint approach to dethrone the incumbent government continues to defy the opposition coalition. While the PML-N and the JUI-F are bent upon marching on the federal capital to press Prime Minister Imran Khan to leave, the PPP, another major PDM constituent, believes agitation would not do the needful, and has instead suggested a no-confidence motion to be tabled in the National Assembly against the PM.

At its outset, the opposition alliance did send jitters through the government ranks. The power shows in Gujranwala, Karachi and Multan went pretty much according to the plan. The crowd turnout at these events, not huge though, was good enough to start with. The speeches from the stage consumed quite a lot of air time in the media. The threats hurled at the government and the deadline warnings grabbed top headlines in news bulletins. In particular, the verbal salvos from some of the leaders targeting “the hands that brought Imran Khan in power” were exceedingly surprising and made waves. PDM leaders were sure of toppling the government before the Senate elections scheduled in March — if not by a long march towards Islamabad, then by en masse resignation from assemblies.

But in an about-turn now, the PDM member parties have decided to take part in the Senate elections. Long march no more appears to be an option, and a ‘democratic’ way of voting the PM out is under consideration. One would expect the PDM to show a little more political maturity and play the role of a genuine opposition, by avoiding confrontational politics and pressing the government for true electoral reforms instead. This is how they can lay the foundation for free and fair elections when they come next.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2021.

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