Already shattered, the rift has widened even further within the PDM possibly to the point of no return. The opposition alliance has decided to part ways with PPP and ANP and has issued show-cause notices to both parties, leaving the movement toothless and without any direction.
The PPP has been accused of siding with the PTI government after Gilani was appointed as Senate opposition leader. This has led to a tussle between the PPP and PML-N as the two main opposition parties bickered endlessly over the matter. The PPP declared it would not accept Shehbaz Sharif as opposition leader in National Assembly if Gilani was not supported in the upper house of parliament.
The PDM has formed a new bloc with five remaining parties sans PPP and ANP. It has hinted at further action against PPP and ANP but it certainly would not bring the alliance closer. The differences within PDM first came to surface when it took the unilateral decision to nominate Gilani, backtracking from its agreed formula regarding distribution of top Senate seats.
The relationship between PPP and PML-N has seen so tense that both parties have started blaming each other for damaging opposition unity. More so Bilawal has announced that he was willing to embark on a solo flight against the government even without the support of other parties. But even if the PPP or any other party decides to go alone, it would unlikely reach desired results let alone oust the government. The opposition parties would be reduced to its traditional role of merely criticising the government.
The PDM was formed amid much optimism that it would challenge the government. Within six months, the alliance collapsed on its own weight as parties of varying shades, who had grouped for their political self-interests, failed to reach consensus on various issues. Apart from holding massive initial protests, it failed to reach a decision on resigning from assemblies and holding a long march.
Now the PDM has been rendered rather ineffective and certainly poses no threat to the government. The PDM will go in the history books as one of the weakest anti-government alliances. It was probably because it was formed without any coherent strategy or failed to gain the clandestine support it hoped for.
