Opposition in fresh bid to rope in PML-Q

Fazl, Zardari hold separate meetings with Chaudhrys of Gujarat

LAHORE:

The city of Lahore was the venue of three back-to-back meetings on the opposition’s no-confidence motion plan, which started from a top-level huddle at the residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

Later in the day, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also the president of the main opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), visited Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Quaid-e-Azam.

Hours later, the PML-Q, a major ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab, met former president and Co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for “consultation” on the prevailing political situation.

The most important meeting of the day took place at Shehbaz Sharif’s residence where the senior leaders of the PML-N, the PPP, and the JUI-F were present. The meeting aimed at zeroing in on the no-confidence motion.

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The meeting was attended by PDM chief Maulana Fazl, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari, besides Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pervez Ashraf of the PPP, Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Marriyum Aurangzeb of the PML-N and Maulana Asadur Rehman and Akram Durrani of the JUI-F.

A joint statement issued after the meeting, did not say about any timeline for the no-confidence move, except revealing that the meetings constituted a committee to decide when to table the motion. The opposition leaders said that the parties wanted to keep the timing as an element of surprise.

Though there was no firm deadline given by the opposition officially, if the statements of some PML-N leaders are to believe, it seems that the opposition was thinking about tabling the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in around four weeks.

The meeting was followed by the two more bilateral meetings with the PML-Q leadership. According to a PML-Q official, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi gave Zardari the right to decide on “a joint future course of action” in consultation with him.

It is stated that the only difference between the PPP and the PDM was on the timing of the motion, as the PDM wanted the motion tabled at the earliest, while the PPP wanted to bring it after its long march, which was beginning on February 27.

A PPP office-bearer said that huge capital had gone into preparing for the long march, therefore, the party could ill-afford to let go all its efforts down the drain. He added that the party wanted the long march reaching Punjab, before the move taken forward.

According to the PPP leader, there was another minor issue as to who would govern Punjab after a successful no-confidence motion. He said that the PPP had proposed that Punjab be given to the PML-Q whereas the PML-N was not ready to agree to the option.

Publically speaking, PPP MNA Shazia Marri said that organising the long march from Karachi to Islamabad was a big feat, adding that it would build momentum for the opposition’s overall anti-government drive.

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“The no-confidence motion is PPP’s suggestion to begin with. Our leadership has said that even if the opposition wants to proceed with the no-confidence motion, the long march should be taken out,” Marri told a press conference in Lahore.

The joint statement of the PPP-PDM meeting said a committee comprising members of each party was being constituted to give a definitive date for the long march.

“The PPP, the PML-N, the PDM leaders have formed a committee comprising all opposition parties to determine the political and legal strategy and the timing of no-confidence motion against Imran Khan,” it read.

The joint statement further said that the leaders took a detailed look at the overall situation in the country and agreed that the entire Pakistan was in agreement to get rid of the present government as soon as possible.

“The scourge of inflation is unleashed upon the people and the brutality with which it continues unabated is unbearable and unacceptable,” it said.

“The continuous rise in prices of essential commodities, including electricity, gas, petrol, especially food items, has broken the back of the people, especially the poor and the daily-wage earners.”

It said that for the last three-and-a-half years, the government had plagued the country with oppressive direct and indirect taxes, consequently, destroying the economy and as a result of reckless policies and decisions, the value of the rupee fell drastically and there was historic rise in domestic and foreign debt.

The meeting expressed alarm over the fact that the atmosphere of national unity and solidarity in Pakistan was being severely damaged due to the government’s actions, adding that distrust was also building in the constitutional arrangement for resource allocation between the federation and its units, which was extremely concerning and damaging to the national interest.

The opposition stressed that it was united for the protection and promotion of federalism. It added that the government’s transgression of the limits set in the Constitution had now taken an authoritarian and fascist approach in which the latest black laws had been enacted through ordinances.

“The conspiracy of Peca [Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act Amendment Ordinance] laws seeks to make the media, political opponents and every individual, deaf, dumb, blind and tongue-tied,” the joint statement added.

“It is [a conspiracy] to collectively impose dictatorship on the whole of the country which is not only against the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, especially the right to freedom of expression but also against the basic concept of national and international human rights and the principles of a democratic society,” the statement continued.

“We will challenge and block these unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic measures at every legal forum”.

Later, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb announced at a press conference that her party had decided to challenge the PECA Amendment Ordinance and said that she along with Senator Azam Nazir Tarrar would file a petition “against this draconian law” in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

She said that Prime Minister Imran Khan should be the first to be tried under the PECA amendment for “bad-mouthing and abusing opponents” and levelling unfounded allegation against them. “Imran Khan and his mouth pieces should seek forgiveness for their sins, in the little time they have in the office.”

About the flurry of meetings on the no-confidence in Lahore, Aurangzeb said that “the opposition had completed the numbers for the motion,” adding that “the power of the people would soon send this regime packing”.

She said that the number game was of paramount importance as their move was centred on mustering enough support. When asked whether the PML-N had been given the first right to the premiership, she said: “When the time will come, people will know.”

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“The candidates for PM and CM Punjab posts would be decided through consultation with Nawaz, Shehbaz and Maryam Nawaz and all political parties. The names would be declared publicly and nothing would be done behind closed doors,” Aurangzeb added.

Asked further why the senior party leader Maryam Nawaz was absent in the recent meetings on fine-tuning the no-confidence motion plans, she said that PML-N was moving forward in consultation, so the impression that Maryam Nawaz was not on board was not correct.

Aurangzeb rubbished the allegation levelled by Information minister Fawad Chaudhry that the opposition parties tried to bribe three PTI MNAs. “No one is now ready to contest elections on their [PTI] ticket. Therefore, there is no need to offer them money.”

On the other hand, insiders said that the opposition parties had put forward a list of the members of treasury benches, who had assured the opposition parties of supporting the no-confidence motion. They added that the PML-N claims support of over 12 lawmakers, PPP around 6 and and JUI-F 2.

It was also stated that the Zardari had been entrusted with the responsibility to lead the opposition on the no-confidence motion plan. A PPP leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refused to confirm the development, but said that the former president had been leading the opposition front since day one.

The PPP leader further said they “indeed have the assurances,” and that they had cross-matched the names to remove overlapping as well. He again declined to disclose the actual number, saying that it was not possible at this stage.

When asked whether there were any assurances from the PML-Q, he declined to give a direct answer. “We enjoy good terms with PML-Q and hope that PML-Q will extend their support for any pro-people move,” he said.

The Insiders said the no-confidence motion was final and that the formal announcement remained which would be made after ironing out a few minor undecided things. It was also stated that the opposition had agreed on Shehbaz Sharif’s name for the next prime minister.

Talks with Elahi

Fazl met the Chaudhry brothers at their residence and took them into confidence about the decision taken during the opposition parties meeting. Reportedly, Fazl asked the Chaudhry brothers to fulfil their assurance, which they gave him during his sit-in in Islamabad two years ago.

However, according to the PML-Q leader, there was no talk of any earlier promises. He said that during the meeting Fazl informed Elahi about the decisions taken during the earlier meeting and the existing number game.

He further said that Fazl was told that the PML-Q needed to consult its supporting lawmakers before deciding their final decision. The PML-Q leader claimed that the party had the support of 11 MNAs and 32 members in the Punjab Assembly (MPA).

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Later, Zardari invited the PML-Q leadership over dinner. Those present at the meeting included Pervaiz Elahi, federal ministers Monis Elahi and Tariq Bashir Chema, and Salik Hussain and Shafy Hussain. Former prime minister Gilani of the PPP was also present during the meeting.

The PPP issued a statement after the meeting, saying that the participants discussed in detail the political situation in the country and other issues of mutual interest. It added that both the parties “agree to take decisions in consultation”.

In the current political scenario, Zardari and Elahi would work out a plan of action with mutual consultation, the statement said, adding that the two parties expressed full confidence in each other.