ISLAMABAD: Despite persistent persuasion by the government, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has decided to go ahead its plan to hold an “anti-inflation” long march to Islamabad on Pakistan Day (March 23).
Speaking to journalists after concluding the all-parties session of the alliance, PDM’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, “The PDM will enter Islamabad on the scheduled day and the government knew such a big march was due on that day, so under which conspiracy did they make such recommendations?”
Fazl said that all members of the PDM have decided that an anti-inflation march against the government will be held as per schedule. “People will turn to Islamabad from all corners of the country and this march will be the last nail in the coffin for this government,” he added.
The JUI chief reiterated that the people of Pakistan have been overburdened because of inflation, and PDM rejects the government’s “mini-budget.” He went on to say that since the government is non-serious itself, it is “also treating the country’s economy in a non-serious manner.”
Commenting on the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill, which was also recently passed by the National Assembly, he lamented the fact that the country’s institutions were being handed over to international financial institutions.
Fazl said that the opposition parties valued the country’s freedom and would not allow the government to trade it. “A ruler who can’t fulfil the responsibility of the common man or the economy has no right to remain in power,” he added.
Last week, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had urged the opposition alliance to change the date as the nation would be celebrating Pakistan Day while foreign guests would also be present in the country for the OIC summit.
He had suggested that the PDM reschedule its march to hold it four days before or after March 23. The minister had also indirectly conveyed to the PDM that there was a chance that the government might seal Islamabad due to the parade and other activities.
Transparency International has shown govt their true face
Referring to Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI 2021), in which Pakistan’s rank has fallen 16 places to 140, the PDM chief said that the current government labelled all other politicians as thieves; however, “the international institution has shown them their own reflection in the mirror.”
“Transparency International has exposed the true face of the incumbent government,” he said, adding that the PTI-led government is the most “incompetent, failed and corrupt” government in the history of Pakistan.
He went on to say that the current PTI government had proven to be the most incompetent and unsuccessful in the country’s history. “Despite this, they are trying to gear up for the next elections and are planning to do rigging using electronic voting machines (EVMs),” he added.
Fazl went on to say that the Opposition will not accept the presidential style of government under any circumstance, saying that the Opposition has fought for the survival of the country and will continue to do so.
“Presidential system is another name for dictatorship,” the JUI chief said, adding that the end of parliamentary rule “seems to be a conspiracy”.
“We will never allow this nefarious conspiracy to be fulfilled as the country had previously suffered because of the presidential system,” he concluded.
