Shehbaz to address upcoming PDM rally

Says no-confidence motion proposal not under ‘serious consideration’

LAHORE:

The decision on no-confidence motion in Punjab or in the Centre would be taken by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said, while also clarifying that such a proposal of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was not under “any serious consideration.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, he said the protest rallies that were in their opening stages would by the later half of November be able to gain the expected momentum.

“The decision of what strategy to adopt ahead of these protests will be taken in the upcoming PDM meeting,” he said, adding that several options were under consideration.

Shehbaz, who is also the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, said the decision of bringing main leadership to such rallies would also be taken by the multi-party confab.

The incumbent government has brought havoc to the country, and from economy to administration, everything has fallen prey to their incompetence, he alleged and said fixing what PTI has done to the country and in particular to the economy, would be a “tall order”.

Unlike the previous PDM rally that was addressed by PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz in Faisalabad, Shehbaz said that he would be addressing the coming PDM rally in DG Khan.

To a query about the apparent differences within the party, he claimed that such reports were all media spread rumours and people should not lend an ear to it.

Read Shehbaz told not to make ‘unconstitutional’ demands

When asked if the party plans on doing anything to fix such an image of an internal rift, the PML-N president said the “baseless rumours” should be left unaddressed to die their natural death. He dismissed reports of any rift within the party.

“What Allah wills will happen,” he said to a question if he sees himself as the next PM and if the PML-N wins with the majority seats in the next elections.

The PML-N president also made a tweet on the country’s prevailing law and order situation.

“Federal Ministers are giving contradictory statements on the prevailing situation. One of them said that PM was unaware of the 2020 Agreement with TLP. There is sheer chaos & lack of leadership & the government machinery is totally clueless. This is IK's way of governing Pakistan!!” it read.

Moreover, PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bukhari told The Express Tribune that protests against inflation would continue till the second week of November. She added that all planned Punjab wide protests were done.

“Protest demonstrations in other provinces against inflation under the PDM banner were underway and will continue till the second week of November,” she said, adding that a PDM meeting would be called next month to decide the next plan of action.

She said: “The PDM will escalate their protests to build the momentum. The next likely plan of PDM could be holding marches throughout the country.” However, she said the decision rests with the PDM.

Asked if Maryam Nawaz was going to the PDM rally, Azma said that the party VP was “not aware of it.”

A PML-N office-bearer told The Express Tribune that both the leaders, Maryam and Shehbaz, were addressing rallies in rotation. He was of the view that since the last rally was attended by Maryam, this time around, it was Shehbaz’s turn. He claimed that such a decision was not any damage control exercise.