The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz believes that the Pakistan Peoples Party had joined the Pakistan Democratic Movement – an opposition alliance formed to de-seat the incumbent government — to get a better position on the negotiation table with the establishment, a central PML-N leader revealed.
The leader, on the condition of anonymity, said that the PPP’s decision to have their own opposition leader elected sent shockwaves throughout the PDM, especially within her party.
She said that what was worse was that the PPP had sought support of the establishment, which was evident from the support of the Balochistan Awami Party senators.
“The PPP has stabbed all PDM parties in the back.”
She said that if the PPP had so badly wanted this position, they could have personally requested party supremo Nawaz Sharif, informing him of the compromises they were ready to make. “Sharif would never have refused,” she added.
These views were also shared by a majority of her party leaders, who had attended the meeting at Jati Umra, presided over by party Vice President Maryam Nawaz, sometime after the breakfast that was attended by leaders of several PDM parties, including the PPP.
“This news came during breakfast.”
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Upon asking the PPP delegation led by Qamar Zaman Kaira, she said, they expressed their complete ignorance on the subject claiming that they were not aware of any such decision of their party.
Since the PML-N was hosting the event, she said, it was decided not to bother them with any more questions on the subject.
Other parties including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl delegation did express their dismay on this matter.
She said that after the breakfast, an internal party meeting was called to assess the scenario, adding that her party had made no calls to Maulana Fazlur Rehman thus far to communicate its concerns. “The party will continue holding more internal meetings on the matter to devise its future plan of action,” she said, adding that the majority view of her party was that the PPP had gone against the very principle they all stood for, which is why they “cannot be trusted anymore”.
“The PPP has deceived the PDM for their short gains, which eventually would be counterproductive for the entire nation.”
She said going to the BAP senators for support and then sitting before the very Senate chairman they were calling illegitimate was just wrong at so many levels.
It was decided at the very inception of the PDM that the parties would not sit with the establishment no matter what. “No party was brought into the alliance at gunpoint,” she said, adding that the PPP by default has seized to be a member of PDM.
It was agreed that the PML-N also needs to be cautious of its own party’s interests. “The PML-N is in no mode to make any more compromises as we are not a charitable organization.”
Earlier in the day, PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal told the media outside Jati Umra that the PPP’s decision to get Yusuf Raza Gilani elected as the opposition leader with support of the BAP senators has dealt a mighty blow to the PDM struggle.
“Whoever betrays the PDM, will have to pay a heavy price,” Iqbal said.
Terming it a dubious transaction, he said that getting the support of a certain senator, about whom the entire Islamabad knows of, was not in line with the PDM targets. “On whose instructions these senators move, is an open secret.”
“The PPP could have informed Sharif about their compulsion. He would have happily given them this seat.”
He said that it was hurtful to see the Awami National Party going against the PDM’s decision and deciding to vote for a PPP candidate.
He said that it was decided in the PDM that the PML-N will get this position, and in line with the decision, Fazl’s party, Hasil Bizenjo’s party, Akhtar Mengal’s party, Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s party, Aftab Sherpao’s party, and Sajad Mir had announced their support for their nominee – Azam Nazir Tarar.
Upon asking if the PPP-led opposition in the Senate would be the government’s opposition, Iqbal said the answer was in the very question.
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“Seeking the support of BAP senators by the PPP is a question mark on the character and respect of all opposition parties in the PDM.”
He said that they hoped that the PPP would have to realise that their survival was in collectively working for the PDM’s goals that they had set out before themselves.
PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said that they will take up the matter in the PDM leadership meeting.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PPP’s move had taken PML-N and other PDM parties by surprise.
Just a day earlier, the PPP had announced to participate in the PDM power show outside the NAB office to show solidarity with Maryam, during her appearance.
The very call-up notice to Maryam was deferred by NAB in view of the rising coronavirus cases and the PML-N to appreciate the gesture of the PDM constituent parties called party leaders who were scheduled to participate in her journey to NAB, to a breakfast on Friday.
Another leader said that it would have been extremely humiliating for the PML-N, if the same had happened during Maryam’s NAB hearing.
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