Govt trying to ‘coerce’ allies into attending session

Fazl says opp lawmakers receiving calls not to attend joint sitting

QUETTA:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman accused the incumbent government of coercing its allies and smaller parties into participating in the joint session of parliament summoned on Wednesday (today) for support on electoral reforms bill and other references.

“The incompetent rulers are gearing up to extend their reign,” Fazl said while addressing a news conference at the residence of provincial JUI-F Amir Maulana Abdul Wasay in Quetta on Tuesday.

PML-N Senior Vice President Sardar Yaqub Khan Nasir, provincial President Jamal Shah Kakar and others were in attendance.

The PDM president claimed that the opposition lawmakers were getting calls and being asked not to attend the joint session as the government lacks majority.

Fazl said that someone else was "pulling the strings of the government", as it could not function on its own. "The country is running under oppression."

"We know who runs [the country] and who is being run. A government, which runs on support is not called a government."

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He said that the government does not even give the people the right to cry. “He (PM Imran) has no vision, no thinking and no philosophy. Those who campaigned for the government are now banging their heads against the wall.”

To a question about their status, Fazl said that in view of the specific situation in Balochistan, “we have supported the change in government”.

"We are in the opposition and it is our decision not to be part of the government,” he said, adding that before overthrowing the government in Punjab, it was necessary to see an alternative.

“If the alternative is even worse, what will the politicians do?"

He said, "People are unable to feed their children and committing suicide but the incompetent rulers are using every possible tactic to prolong their rule and enslaving 220 million people. The PDM is fighting for the freedom of the nation."

On his meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Fazl said he had visited him as “his doors were not closed for anyone”.

The PPP chairman had last week met Fazl, with the meeting culminating in both the leaders deciding to adopt a joint strategy against the ruling PTI in parliament.