Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman among other leaders of the joint opposition addressed PDM’s public gathering titled “Inflation March” against the PTI-led government in Islamabad on Monday night.
Maryam, in her fiery speech, fired broadside at Prime Minister Imran Khan. “Hearts and minds filled with arrogance are abound to meet the same fate as today [prime minister] Imran Khan is facing,” said Maryam at the start of her address at the rally.
“Today we have gathered here under the leadership of [JUI-F] Maulana Fazlur Rehman to bid farewell to Imran Khan,” she said, adding that the premier has “lost the confidence” of not only parliamentarians but members of his own party and nation as well.
Despite using government resources, Maryam said the ruling PTI against its claims of gathering one million people could not even gather “10,000 people”.
Taking a jibe at the premier’s decision to nominate PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi for the post of Punjab chief minister, Maryam said, “After seeing his government’s ship sinking he pushed Usman Buzdar into water”.
The PML-N leader also mocked the prime minister for claiming that foreign elements were conspiring to topple his government. “International conspirators must have informed Imran Khan about their plot through black magic or delivered a letter through pigeon.”
“Was [US president] Joe Biden behind defection in your party?… the country is being run through black magic,” she remarked.
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Maryam also claimed that a “shocking scandal” involving PM Imran will be revealed soon. “Whenever the gang of Far** got stuck with any problem, a phone call came from PM House [to rescue them].”
“Time has come to give a final push to this government and raise slogan, Goodbye.”
Shehbaz Sharif
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing the gathering, lashed out at PM Imran saying that the incumbent government has destroyed the economy of the country and inflation has reached historic highs.
“Imran Khan who gives example of Riyasat-e-Madina allowed cartels to earn profits worth billions of rupees,” he said, adding that people are unable to afford a one square meal a day due to unprecedented inflation.
He said during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan carried out successful nuclear tests despite the US pressure. “Nawaz Sharif refused to take $5 billion offered by the US and carried out nuclear tests,” he remarked.
Shehbaz said PM Imran’s claims of foreign conspiracy against his government are nothing but a “drama”.
He added that opposition parties did not move no-trust motion against PM Imran for their vested interest but in the interest of the country.
“We will have to give rights to smaller provinces if no-confidence motion succeeds… we will have to work hard to resolve the issues of the masses.”
Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Speaking on the occasion, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that time for the collapse of PTI-led government is near and added that “no one would dare again to install such an incompetent government” in the country.
“The no-confidence motion has been tabled in parliament against this government today… he [PM Imran] will witness an unceremonious departure [from the power],” he remarked.
“You [PDM workers] have been on the roads for the last four years to get rid of this government… your sacrifices will not go in vain… I appreciate your courage and determination.”
Fazl, who also heads PDM, said the joint opposition’s objective is to make the country’s institutions stronger so that “no state institution can influence the other organisation”.
JUI-F chief said names of PM Imran and “his magicians” should be placed on exit control list (ECL) so that they could not flee the country after verdict of the foreign funding case is announced.
He also urged the judiciary to take notice of PM Imran’s statement wherein he claimed that PML-N supremo Nawaz was attempting to create rifts among judges.
“You [PM Imran] have attacked the judiciary, media and politicians… we will not spare you,” he added.
Hamza Shehbaz
PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz, while addressing the rally, sounded alarm on spillover effect of any potential economic crisis in the country.
“Defence expenditures are being meet through loans… beggars cannot be choosers… so how can we make independent decisions,” he remarked while blaming the PTI-led government of making the lives of masses miserable through “flawed” economic policies.
Hamza said country’s economy is already “on the ventilator” and warned that if economic situation further deteriorated “then God forbids this nuclear-armed country can suffer huge losses”.
He said PM Imran encouraged his spokespersons to use foul language against his opponents.
“No-confidence motion will be passed with big majority… but people have already passed a no-confidence against [PM] Imran Khan through [PML-N] long-march,” he added.
Earlier, the PML-N rally led by Maryam and Hamza entered the federal capital to participate in the anti-government show.
The caravans of the constituent parties of the PDM – mainly the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – had set off for the federal capital from across the country few days ago and are converging on Islamabad today.
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کا مہنگائی مارچ اسلام آباد پہنچ گیا۔ https://t.co/aj6k2JFhC9
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) March 28, 2022
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the anti-government alliance, had announced staging a rally in response to ruling PTI’s power show that was held in Islamabad on Sunday amid opposition’s attempt to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan through no-trust vote in National Assembly.
Major opposition leaders including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam, Hamza, and several others are expected to address the public gathering.
#مہنگائی_مکاؤ_مارچ کا قافلہ مریم نوازشریف اور حمزہ شہباز کی سربراہی میں گوجر خان پہنچ گیا.استقبال کیلیے انسانوں کا سمندر اُمڈ آیا pic.twitter.com/4dBOoP3tc6
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) March 28, 2022
A day earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the opposition parties are allowed to hold a public gathering in Islamabad “but if anyone tries to stage a sit-in he will crush it”.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Rashid said JUI-F was given permission to hold a rally in the federal capital and added that he had requested the opposition parties not to change venue or the nature of their public gathering.
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The minister added that they have issued show-cause notice to the JUI-F activists to vacate the Srinagar Highway, saying that PML-N was already issued NOC [no-objection certificate] to hold a rally in Islamabad’s H-9 area on March 28 (Monday).
The interior minister said stern action would be taken against those found involved in blocking the roads besides registering a first information reports (FIR) against them.
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