PDM announces anti-govt rallies, long march

Alliance to continue anti-inflation movement until PTI’s ouster

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an alliance of opposition parties – on Saturday announced that it would stage a series of rallies in the provincial capitals and finally a long march from Lahore to Islamabad against the PTI-led government for its anti-people policies and the rising inflation.

The decision was made at a meeting of the alliance in Islamabad.

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif participated in the meeting via video link from London while party President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz joined the huddle from Lahore.

Other opposition leaders including Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith chief Allama Sajid Mir, PML-N leader and the alliance’s general secretary Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan’s Awais Noorani, Qaumi Watan Party’s Aftab Sherpao, National Party’s Mir Kabeer Ahmed and Balochistan National Party-Mengal’s (BNP-M) Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini were among those in attendance on the occasion.

The meeting mulled the overall political situation, rising inflation, the amended National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) as well as other issues.

The participants deliberated upon the PDM's future course of action against the incumbent government over the ever-rising inflation.

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Besides agreeing to organise a long march, the leaders also announced holding anti-inflation protest rallies in the provinces.

“A protest will be held in Karachi on November 13, followed by one in Quetta on November 17 and in Peshawar on November 20," read a statement issued by PML-N’s Abbasi following the meeting.

“The last rally would be taken out in Lahore, from where protesters would march towards the federal capital.”

The final date of the march will be announced following a PDM leadership’s conference.

Briefing the media following the meeting, the senior PML-N leader said the opposition leaders had condemned the rising inflation and rejected the spike in the prices of electricity, gas, petrol, flour, ghee, sugar, medicines and other essential commodities.

“They [PDM leaders] have demanded that the hike be reversed to provide immediate relief to the masses,” he added.

Abbasi termed “the Imran Khan-led government’s historic corruption” the main reason for the “unprecedented” inflation.

“The participants also demanded the disclosure of the conditions agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the masses.”

 “This movement will end only after sending Imran Khan home and it is time to get rid of him. The people won’t tolerate the government for even a moment that has overburdened them with inflation.”

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According to the PML-N leader, the entire PDM leadership termed the amended NAO, electoral reforms, electronic voting machines (EVMs) and internet voting mala fide and rejected them completely.

“Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif will consult other parties in parliament and finalise a strategy about the protest.”

The participants of the meeting also demanded strict action against those found guilty in Daska by-election rigging.

A JUI-F leader told The Express Tribune that different road caravans would be taken out in these cities.

“These road caravans would then end with a rally which would be attended by the PDM leadership,” he added.

BNP-M‘s Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini said dislodging the government was not their main goal, but to acquire relief for the people.

“If this government can deliver on its promises, then fine but if not, then there would be no choice but its departure.”

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif continued his efforts to build a consensus among more opposition political leaders for a joint action against the unbridled inflation in the country.

He spoke with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq on the phone on Saturday and discussed a joint strategy.