PDM nominates Yousuf Raza Gilani as joint candidate for Senate top slot

Pakistan Democratic Party (PDM) – the 11-party anti-government alliance – on Monday unanimously nominated former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who recently defeated the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) candidate in a major upset in the Senate elections, for the post of Senate chairman.

The decision was made during the alliance’s meeting, chaired by its head Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in Islamabad.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Sherpao, Gilani, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Raja Pervez Ashraf were also in attendance. Three-time prime minister of the country and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif also addressed the meeting via video-link from London.

The PDM leaders addressed a joint press confrence follwoing the meeting.

The high-level huddle evaluated the situation after Prime Minister Imran Khan's vote of confidence and the overall political situation in the country, Express News reported.

On Saturday, the lower house of parliament reaffirmed its confidence in PM Imran by overwhelmingly voting in his favour as the premier polled 178 votes – six more than the magical number of 172. However, the PDM boycotted the NA session which was specifically convened by President Arif Alvi for the PM's trust vote.

The prime minister had voluntarily decided to seek a fresh vote of confidence after the shock defeat of PTI candidate Hafeez Shaikh at the hands of Gilani in the March 3 Senate elections which the opposition said was a vote of no-confidence against Imran Khan.

Read more: PDM to decide on timing of no-confidence move against PM: Bilawal

The PDM leadership also discussed its strategy for the long march and joint candidate for deputy chairman of the upper house.

During the meeting, a special committee set up for the long march presented its recommendations for the grand anti-government demonstration. It said that long march should commence from Karachi on March 26 with a rally and all processions should reach Islamabad by 3pm on March 30.

The committee recommended that all parties should mobilise as many people as possible and they should bear all expenses on their own.

It also suggested that a centralised system must be created to mobilise people and to achieve it, traders, farmers and trade unions should be contacted. Committee further recommended that all arrangements should be made on the site of the sit-in prior to the arrival of the participants.

‘PPP committed to PDM's roadmap’

Addressing the meeting, Bilawal Bhutto said that the election for the post of Senate chairman would take place in four days.

"We want to win this election as well and add another victory to our credit," he said and added that PPP is committed to PDM's roadmap.

The government has convened the session of the upper house of parliament on Tuesday (tomorrow) at 4:00pm. Prime Minister’s Adviser for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan has sent the summary for the session.

“Still three days are needed to complete the number of working days required under the constitution for the Senate. The constitutional requirement will be completed by March 11,” Awan said. “The new Senate year will begin after election of new senators and the chairman,” he added.

Nawaz reaffirms mission to end establishment’s role from politics

Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz Sharif said that the reason for the formation of PDM was not to come into power but to end the role of establishment in the country’s politics.

"I congratulate Yousuf Raza Gilani for a remarkable win. Bilawal was right when he said Gilani's win would greatly impact the national politics," he remarked.

Read more: PDM blames agencies for coercing lawmakers into voting for PTI in Senate polls

The former premier asked PPP to nominate Gilani for the post of Senate chairman, and assured his party‘s full support to him in the forthcoming elections.

Fazl puts his weight behind en masse resignations

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who also heads the opposition alliance, once again proposed the option of en masse resignations from assemblies across the country in a bid to send the government of PM Imran packing.

“We should resign from parliament in order to focus fully on the movement… resignations are also part of the political process,” he was quoted as saying during the meeting.

The joint opposition, Fazl said, should go into long march with a clear strategy and added that participants of the march should stage a sit-in in Islamabad or its twin city Rawalpindi for a few days.

The PDM head blamed the incumbent rulers for the country’s economic woes and alleged failures in foreign affairs.