By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Friday said out of their obsession for power, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders were treading an undemocratic path to dislodge a democratically elected government by creating chaos in the country through their protests.
He said,“The 11-party alliance, which is known as ‘PDM’, is only ‘democratic’ by virtue of its name, but its narrative has nothing to do with the democratic norms.” adding that PDM campaign was dying on its own.
The PDM’s narrative was ‘ridiculous’ as the so-called democratic alliance wanted to come into the power after toppling the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government through unconstitutional and undemocratic means, Shibli Faraz, who was flanked by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur, told a news conference.He said the present government was a ‘democratic’ dispensation as it had come into the power after winning the last general election, which were held in a transparent manner and later verified by the international organizations including FAFEN (Free and Fair Election Network).
Unlike the PDM, Shibli Faraz said, the PTI had approached the apex court for recount of votes in four constituencies which led to the formation of a judicial commission and later it was proved that rigging did happen in those areas during the 2013 general election.
Likewise, the question [of election rigging] was also raised by the party at the Parliament, he recalled.“Whether these political parties, claiming to be the champions of democracy, have utilized any such platform! Did they go to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or plead their claim [of rigging] at any legal forum or raise the issue at the Parliament and in its committees?” Shibli said, while questioning the PDM’s credibility.
“What are the evidences they have,” Shibli added, while asking the opposition leaders to make the evidences public, if any, to justify their claim of alleged rigging in the last general election.
Earlier December 23, Senator Shibli asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership to practically go for resignation from the Parliament and refrain from wasting the nation’s time with hollow threats.
The minister, in a tweet, said the opposition was demoralized as its movement had been completely fizzled out after the flop show at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Their announcement for an ‘inflation march’ after the ‘long march’ was a manifestation of their ‘shrinking’ and ‘doomed’ agenda.The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), in fact, had no agenda to pursue, he added.
Mr. Shibli also paid rich tribute to father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his birth anniversary.
“On December 25, we pay tribute to sincere and great leader, who materialised dreams of people of sub-continent by defeating the imperialism of that time with prudence, determination and steadfastness, “he tweeted.
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal were ideal leaders of Pakistani nation, he said in a series of tweets.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was determined to transform Pakistan into a modern, Islamic, welfare democratic state in line with the ideology of Quaid.“We want to develop the new Pakistan in line with the vision of Jinnah,” he said.
“By the grace of Allah Almighty, the new Pakistan will be true portrayal of Quaid’s dream”, the minister said.
