From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Pakistan peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the selected PM has failed to resign by the deadline set by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), adding that the joint opposition must now force the removal of puppets.
PPP chairman in a series of tweets said that PDM had given this illegitimate regime the opportunity to step aside respectfully and allow for a transition to democracy with free, fair and transparent elections. He said that the people are facing historic, poverty, unemployment and inflation because this government was forced on them. The joint opposition must now force the removal of puppets.
Bilawal said that PPP believes in relying on democratic tactics. Sustained joint efforts inside and outside parliament will ultimately succeed. He said, establishment must leave political battles to the politicians now or risk being drawn into controversies. Only a government chosen by the people can deliver for the people, he added.
Peoples party chairman said that Long March and no confidence will hopefully be discussed in our PDM meeting. He said that government’s desperation is clear after they are trying to change rules to rig senate elections because they can see their defeat. He said that senate elections will show that government is on shaky ground. PDM deadline for PM resignation: The PDM leadership on January 14 gave a deadline of Dec 31 to Prime Minister Imran Khan to resign, failing which the opposition alliance would announce schedule for launching a long march on Islamabad on Feb 1.
The PDM summit meeting at Raiwind decided that its members of national and provincial assemblies would hand over their resignations to their respective party heads till Dec 31.The development came a day after the PDM held a rally in Lahore.
“Today, we want to make it clear that the government should resign till January 31. If it does not, the [PDM leadership] will announce a long march on February 1,” Fazl said while addressing a press conference here along with PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
However, Fazl said the final date for the long march, despite the February 1 announcement, would be finalized later on.
He appealed to the people to start preparing for the long march. Fazl said following Sunday’s public rally, the 11-party alliance had signed a joint statement. “The schedules issued to the provinces by the steering committee will remain intact,” he said. Furthermore, the PDM chief said the Movement leaders and the steering committee members would hold meetings with the party leaders of their respective provinces. “History will remember Lahore’s jalsa, just like it remembers the one held at the same place in 1940,” he said.
Responding to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement of not giving an NRO to the opposition Fazl said, “He is making such statements, as he is under pressure.”
Fazl said the leaders had signed an agreement similar to the Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed by PML-N Rahber Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto on May 14, 2006 in London.
