PDM firm on staging march on Pakistan Day

Fazl tells all parties to devote all their energies for success of initiative

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an alliance of opposition parties – on Tuesday said it would not roll back its plan to stage its anti-inflation long march on the federal capital on March 23.

Addressing the media after a meeting of the alliance, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who also heads the PDM, asked the constituent parties to divert all their energies towards the protest.

Fazl chaired the meeting, which was attended by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz via video link.

 “It has been unanimously decided that the anti-inflation march will be held on March 23,” Fazl said while speaking about the huddle.

“All [opposition] parties are instructed to devote all their energies for the success of this march. People from all corners of the country will turn to Islamabad. It will be the last nail in the coffin of the current rulers,” he added.

When pointed out that the federal capital would be under heavy security because of the Pakistan Day military parade and a session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on March 23, the PDM president replied that the long march would enter Islamabad no matter what.

“They [the government] knew that we are staging the long march on that date,” he said.

“As far as the military parade is concerned, it will begin in early morning and wrap up by Zuhr prayers. We will come after Zuhr prayers.”

Fazl claimed that the PTI rulers had compromised the country’s sovereignty through the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill.

“God forbid, we are transforming into a colony instead of an independent state,” he added.

Referring to the Corruption Perception Index report issued by the Transparency International (TI), the JUI-F chief observed that corruption had increased in the past few years, but the rulers were still trying to cling on to power.

Read Rashid warns PDM against taking out march on March 23

However, he warned that the nation was awake and they would send the rulers packing.

“They used slogans of corruption against all politicians but it turned out that that they were thieves themselves. The Transparency International has shown them the mirror of their artificial honesty,” he added.

Referring to the foreign funding case in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PDM president claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been found guilty in the case as he had hidden about 22 accounts. “Imran Khan should be disqualified after the findings of the PTI foreign funding case.”

Fazl also opposed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the elections. “We will not recognise EVMs. This is another name for RTS,” he said, referring to the Result Transmission System used in the 2018 elections.

The JUI-F chief also said the PDM rejected the “mini-budget” passed earlier this month.

Responding to a question about the “presidential system”, Fazl said that it was another name for dictatorship. “Whether it is [Field Marshal] Ayub [Khan], [Gen] Yahya [Khan], Gen Zia[ul Haq] or [Gen Pervez] Musharraf… we will not allow this.”

The PDM president said farmers would be part of the March 23 long march. “We will keep them involved in this struggle,” he added.

He asked the government to recognise the right of the provinces. He also demanded for making the Reko Diq agreement public.

Read more PTI ‘vindicated’ in foreign funding case

About the Murree tragedy in which 23 people died because of heavy snowfall earlier this month, Fazl said that it was the responsibility of the government but “unfortunately, “the whole system is asleep”. He demanded the resignation of the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister over the mishap.

When asked about a recent statement of PM Imran about him becoming more dangerous if he came to the streets, Fazl replied that “he [Imran] will be dangerous for himself only”.

The PDM leader said the joint opposition alliance only believed in using democratic and constitutional options to elect or topple any government. On the PPP’s suggestion of a no-confidence motion against PM Imran, Fazl said no decision had been taken so far.

“First, all parties must agree on a no-confidence motion,” Fazl told reporters. Responding to another question, the PDM president said that he had no contact with PPP Co-Chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

At a press conference in Islamabad, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the PDM alliance posed no threat to the government. He then recited a famous Urdu couplet: ‘Na Khanjar Uthay Ga, Na Talwaar Unn Sey/Yeh Bazu Mere Azmaye Hue Hain”.

It roughly translates to “Neither they will be able to lift a dagger, nor a sword. I have tried and tested these arms.”