ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties ]during the All Parties Conference (APC) announced that a new alliance named Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would be formed under which the parties would unite to oust the incumbent government.
Following a multi-party-conference in Islamabad — billed by the opposition as an “All Parties Conference” — the opposition shared the plan of action devised to “rid the country” of the government.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, addressing a media briefing, said that the opposition demands the “immediate resignation of selected Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Niazi”.
He said that a failure to do so will result in the joint opposition announcing country-wide protests that will include the participation of lawyers, traders, labourers, farmers, civil society, and the people in general.
“In the first phase, beginning October, rallies will be held in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab.
“In the second phase, starting December, huge demonstrations will take place country-wide. In the third phase, to begin in January next year, a long-march will move towards Islamabad,” Fazl said.
“To oust the selected government, the joint opposition will use all tactics, including a vote of no confidence and resignations from the parliament.”
Meanwhile, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif said that the opposition had no option but to arrive at these decisions as the incumbent government was “selected” and could not handle the country’s affairs, including the situation in Kashmir and the coronavirus crisis.
“The country’s future is at stake if the government continues its regime,” he said.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the opposition is headed towards its “mission” under the guidance and support of the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP chairman Asif Zardari.
Responding to a question, Bilawal said that if any party goes back on the commitments made today, then the people must hold it accountable.
The PPP chairman said the leader of the movement has not yet been decided.
He said that the movement would struggle not only against the government but also “the ones who brought it into power”.
When asked about the extent of the opposition’s unity going forward, Bilawal said that in every situation the opposition would stand together, and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman would not be abandoned.
“A committee comprising senior members has been constituted and when the numbers are right it will decide when to strike,” he said.
When asked about whether another candidate for the post of prime minister from PTI was acceptable, Bilawal rejected the suggestion and said that it was unacceptable.
Speaking about the recent passing of FATF-related legislation in the parliament, Bilawal said that the opposition demanded that the votes be recounted, but the speaker shot down the demand.
He said that the opposition is not one to deceive the people regarding this, insisting that the voting was “rigged”.
“We have always tackled non-democratic forces with democratic ways, ” he said, adding that the opposition will not engage in politics of coercion.
Opposition’s 26-point charter of demands
At the outset of the media briefing, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman read out the parties’ 26-point charter of demands.
The meeting declared that the “incumbent selected government has been granted artificial stability by the establishment that has imposed it on the people through rigged elections”, said the JUI-F chief.
He said that the forum demands transparent elections in the country and calls for electoral reforms.
“The selected government has ruined the common man’s life with record-high inflation, unemployment, and taxes […] we demand that the prices of flour, sugar, ghee, electricity and gas be immediately brought down.”
Due to the “selected” government’s failed policies, the crumbling economy is posing a serious danger to the country’s atomic power and sovereignty, said Fazl.
“The 1973 Constitution, the 18th Amendment and the current National Finance Commission (NFC) award are a reflection of the nation’s united viewpoint and we will fight to guard these from any attack and will protect our provincial autonomy. No compromise will be made on this.”
He said that the opposition rejects the “nefarious intentions” of introducing a presidential system in the country.
“The selected government is responsible for the fall of Kashmir,” Fazl said, alleging that India’s move to annex Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was made “with the incumbent government’s support”.
The APC expressed grave concerns over the “complete failure” of the government’s policy regarding Afghanistan, said the JUI-F chief.
He said that the meeting condemns “unprecedented” gags on the media and censorship. It demands that Editor-in-Chief Jang and Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman be released along with other media persons.
It also condemns the “false cases based on political revenge” against political leaders, leaders, and activists, he said.
According to the declaration, due to the “non-implementation” of the National Action Plan there has been “a surge in terrorism”.
The forum has also expressed grave concerns over the dismal law and order situation, saying that the government had “failed miserably” to ensure the basic rights of citizens.
Fazl said that the “inexperienced government” has put the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into danger”. The opposition demands that CPEC projects be expedited and the motorway and railways on the western routes be developed on an emergency basis, he added.
“The selected government has paralysed the parliament and the voice of the opposition was being suppressed […] the opposition will not cooperate with the rubber-stamp Parliament anymore,” the JUI-F chief declared.
The opposition has also called for elections in Gilgit-Baltistan to be held on time and “without intervention”.
“After the elections, through national consensus, steps should be taken to include GB within Pakistan’s political parameters”, he said.
Fazl said that the tribal areas have been made no-go areas, and that the forum demands an end to this.
He said that a committee has been constituted to draft a Charter of Democracy which would guide the country to becoming the Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned.
The JUI-F chief added that a truth commission will also be formed which will “bring forth Pakistan’s true history since 1947”.
Prior to the press conference, PML-N secretary-general Ahsan Iqbal said that the parties have agreed that the “artificial setup that was established in 2018” had failed on several fronts and has made the country nearly ungovernable.
Talking about what the opposition has planned, he said that it would be a phase-wise campaign, that would take place within as well as outside of parliament.
The PML-N leader, responding a question on whether the opposition would resign from the assemblies, said that such a move would be akin to dropping an “atom bomb”.
“In wars, you don’t drop atom bombs suddenly,” he said, adding that at the same time the people were “asking the opposition to get rid of the government”.
“It has been 72 years and the country is still not stable; countries like Bangladesh and Afghanistan are ahead of us. We cannot let this continue”, Iqbal said.
“We want a non-political role of the state’s institutions,” he added.
Speaking about the change that the opposition has demanded, he said that the country needs “a new covenant” — like the one signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Iqbal said that Nawaz “wants to come back to Pakistan” and that once his doctors approve, he will.
