-Emergency PDM meeting was convened after Shehbaz’s arrest
-Khaqan says Quetta rally to be the beginning of anti-govt movement
-Appoints Ahsan Iqbal as head of the steering committee of PDM
-Declares all parties agreed to oust the undemocratic government
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)- a multiparty alliance of the opposition parties- will hold its first public gathering in Quetta on October 11 as PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Tuesday that it would be the beginning of the anti-government movement.
An emergency meeting of the PDM was convened on Tuesday after the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after rejection of his bail plea a day before.
Divulging details of the PDM meeting, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that they discussed the steps needed for restoration of democracy in the country and issues faced by masses besides appointing PML-N stalwart Ahsan Iqbal as the head of the steering committee of the alliance.
He said that the steering committee would have two representatives each from every party and will hold public gatherings in every province of the country.
“We will be presenting goals of our movement before the masses in a week,” he said adding that all parties have agreed to oust the undemocratic government in the country.
On September 20, opposition-led All Parties Conference (APC) on Sunday announced to form the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) aimed at jointly launching countrywide protest. The handout issued by the APC announced country-wide protests with its first phase beginning in October and November with mass protests in major cities of the country.
In the next phase, the public gatherings will be held in provincial capitals of the country, the handout detailing the action plan read.
The opposition parties would further take out a long march towards Islamabad, the federal capital, the handout read besides also announcing to utilize all options inside and outside of the assemblies against the government including bringing no-confidence motion and resignations at the appropriate time from the assemblies.
Moreover, The PDM huddle comes a day after PML-N president and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in an assets beyond means and money laundering case.
Referring to the arrest, former premier and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf said the meeting resolved that “such tactics will weaken democracy and the anger and grievances of Pakistanis will rise.”
Questioning the need to arrest Shehbaz after a reference against him had been filed, Pervez said the “government-NAB nexus” became apparent after government ministers predicted on television the arrests of various opposition leaders.
Ashraf said the Oct 11 rally will be followed by “a series of public meetings” in all provinces.
The meeting was expected to review the situation after Shehbaz’s detention and possible arrest of other leaders, the PTI government’s alleged plan to rig Gilgit-Baltistan and local bodies polls and give a final shape to the decisions taken at the opposition’s September 20 multi-party conference (MPC).
The PDM was formed at the MPC, where opposition parties had announced launching of a three-phased anti-government movement under an “action plan” starting from next month with countrywide public meetings, protest demonstrations and rallies in December and a “decisive long march” towards Islamabad in January 2021.
