-Opposition lawmakers to submit resignations by 31st
-Will hold elections if Opposition resigns from assemblies, says PM
-PDM divided over resignation issue, says Shibli
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Tuesday that lawmakers belonging to different opposition parties will submit resignations to their respective party heads by December 31.
Briefing media about the decisions taken in yesterday’s PDM meeting held at the PML-N secretariat in Islamabad, Fazl said that PDM will hold a pubic rally at any cost in Lahore on December 13 (Sunday).
“Opposition lawmakers from national and provincial assemblies will submit resignations to their respective party heads by December 31,” said Fazl while addressing a press conference along with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.
Fazlur Rehman added that PDM – a multi-party alliance will hold a power show in Lahore on December 13 and warned of a possible clash if govt tried to create a hurdle in way of the PDM leaders to hold a rally in Lahore.
Rehman said that the steering committee will meet today (Wednesday) to decide the schedule for further rallies and demonstrations.
The meeting will mull over decisions like shutter down strike, time and the date for the long march towards Islamabad and next schedule of public rallies, said Fazl.
He further said that PDM leaders would meet on December 31 in Islamabad to make important decisions with regard to the alliance’s future strategy.
Agencies add: the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has suggested submitting resignations of all opposition members in the National Assembly to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Nawaz Sharif suggested that resignations should be submitted to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who would then submit it to the National Assembly speaker after the long march.
It is to be noted that the Local administration of Lahore had refused a request from Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold a public gathering at the Minar-e-Pakistan owing to spike in COVID-19 cases.
The premier responded to reports of Opposition members resigning from the Parliament in the coming days, saying, “We will immediately hold elections if Opposition resigns from assembly.”
PM Imran Khan reiterated his position that the government was willing to hold a dialogue with the Opposition on every issue but “no talks on giving NRO will be held with the Opposition”.
He said the government will immediately hold local government elections after the Senate elections are held.
Referring to protest movements by the Opposition’s PDM, the premier said that the government will not use force against them.”The Opposition wants to instigate chaos in the country, they want the government to use force [against it],” he said. During the interview, he also said that 40 representatives of the PML-N were landgrabbers.
Speaking about not going to the Parliament, PM Imran said he wanted to present his point of view there but “they (Opposition members) don’t even let me talk there”.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz lamented PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and said that the daughter of an absconder is lecturing them on how to run the affairs of the state.
Addressing a press conference, Shibli Faraz said that the opposition had promoted a society where respect is owned through money and they could never desire for the country to stand on its own feet.
“It was due to their policies that employments were awarded on favoritism and recommendations,” he said.
Warning over the second COVID-19 wave, Shibli Faraz said that it was far more dangerous than the first wave, and a non-serious attitude in implementation of the COVID-19 SOPs would lead to strict restrictions on movement.
“Next two months are important in this regard owing to the upcoming winter season,” he said adding that lack of seriousness on COVID-19 SOPs has already taken a toll on the health facilities.
Speaking on the shortage of oxygen supply at Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar that led to the death of six patients, the chief minister said that they have directed the province to store suitable oxygen reserves to avoid such incidents in the future.
Shibli Faraz also lamented the opposition over the protest movement during the pandemic and asked them to refrain from behaving irresponsibly.
“They have no agenda for the public welfare and only came out serve their vested interests,” he said adding that they were the same people who remained in power during previous tenures.
The information minister further lamented the opposition and said that they have accepted results of constituencies where they are declared successful and are raising a hue and cry over the other seats.
“Since PPP won the Sindh province, there was no rigging in these polls but from other seats, they are raising a hue and cry over rigging and same applies for Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N,” he said and added the opposition is no one to ask the incumbent government to go home.
He said that the opposition is divided over the issue of the resignation as Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maryam Nawaz would go for the resignations as they are not part of the parliamentary politics.
