Pakistan Democratic Alliance chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman said on Saturday that the “PPP and the ANP are not with us, and we did not discuss them during the meeting.
The Maulana was addressing the media in Islamabad after an hours-long meeting of the opposition alliance in Islamabad along with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Vice president Maryam Nawaz and other leaders of the PDM parties.
Replying to a question, Maulana Fazal said that The People’s Party and the Awami National Party issue was “not a topic on which time could be wasted.”
“The two parties have time to inform the PDM of their decision [whether to join the alliance],” he added
He categorically said the PDM “can’t spend time on this topic anymore.”
A reporter put the question to Maryam Nawaz and she replied that the Maulana has clearly answered the question.
ELECTORAL REFORMS: The Maulana rejected the proposed electoral reforms of the government and announced the launch of a series of protests against the government.
He said the PDM rejects the “unilateral” electoral reforms ordinance, including the use of voting machines, and termed it as “pre-poll rigging.”
He suggested that the Election Commission of Pakistan hold a meeting with all political parties to take a unanimous decision on the reforms.
Maulana Fazal said the PDM has decided to begin legal proceedings against the PTI-led government’s “unlawful acts.”
A team will be formed with PML-N’s Azam Nazir Tarar as its convener and JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza as the co-convener to start legal proceedings, he added.
He said the PDM will launch a series of anti-government protest on July 4, followed by a demonstration in Karachi on July 29.
A “massive” protest will be held in Islamabad on Independence Day with PDM showing solidarity to Kashmiris and Palestinians.
The PML-N will also host a budget seminar soon to form a unified strategy during the government’s budget session in the parliament, while the task to hold the event has been given to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, he said.
AFGHANISTAN SITUATION: He said that the PDM also discussed the regional and Afghanistan situation and expressed concern over it.
He said that the PDM demands that in the present regional and Afghanistan situation, a joint session of the parliament should be called to discuss the foreign and defense policies.
Maulana Fazal said the PDM meeting strongly condemned attacks on journalists and expressed solidarity with the media.
A PDM delegation will also visit the residence of journalists Asad Ali Toor and Absar Alam to express solidarity with them.
He also accused the government of “grabbing” the citizens’ lawfully owned land to benefit some people. “The PDM is standing by the side of masses and will never let them feel alone in these stressful times.”
The PDM chief said PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal attended the alliance’s meeting via video, while other Opposition party leaders were present in person.
