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The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of 11 opposition parties, has started its campaign from Gujranwala to seek the ouster of the PTI government. But the PDM’s real objective, as claimed by their leadership, is to restore the rule of law and Constitution in the country.
PM Imran Khan is convinced the opposition movement is only meant for seeking an NRO-type deal that was issued by the Musharraf regime in 2007 to give amnesty to politicians from corruption charges as part of a deal with PPP.
Opposition leaders are confident the current government will go by early next year. It’s certainly part of the psychological war. The PTI government as of now is not facing an immediate threat. There are limited options for opposition parties to seek the ouster of PM Imran.
Second power show in Karachi
After Gujranwala, the 11-party opposition held its second power show in Karachi on Sunday under the banner of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), hosted by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz and JUI-F Cheif Maulana Fazlur Rehman were presented at Bagh-i-Jinnah during the show.
Hundreds of supporters welcomed the leaders at the venue, dancing to the beat of PPP’s anthem. The crowd waved flags of the various political parties. Bilawal thanked the enthusiastic crowd and welcomed the JUI-F chief and PML-N vice president.
Maryam Nawaz was welcomed at the airport by a large number of party workers. This was her first public appearance in the metropolis.
PDM a beginning for real democracy claimed
Leaders of PDM have termed the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as a “beginning for real democracy and civilian supremacy” in the country.
While addressing the public gathering at Karachi’s Bagh-i-Jinnah, they strongly criticized the PTI-led federal government for filing ‘baseless’ cases against opposition whether they were from Waziristan, Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh.
They said Pakistan was supposed to be a Muslim state, where there would be justice, where power would rest with parliament, where the Constitution would be supreme and people would be independent.
Violation of the sanctity of Mazar-e-Quaid
Before attending the public meeting of PDM, Maryam, along with Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and other leaders of the party came to the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam to pay homage to the Founder of the Nation.
Safdar resorted to political sloganeering inside the mausoleum along with a large number of supporters of the PML(N) who gatecrashed and reached the heavily secured site of the final resting place of the Founder of the Nation.
Safdar chanted slogans several times along with supporters of PML (N): “Give respect to vote” that has been the most popular slogan of the party since Sharif was ousted from power in the previous regime.
Police lodges FIR against Safdar
The mausoleum’s administration had told the PML-N leadership that only six vehicles will be allowed to enter the premises. However, Maryam Nawaz took a large number of party activists along with her.
The move was met by a fierce reaction by the PTI-led federal government representatives who not only demanded an apology but approached the police, asking them to initiate legal action.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said that the behavior was just not acceptable. “The sanctity of Quaid’s Mazar has been disrespected by these criminals masquerading as politicians,” he tweeted.
Safdar was arrested from a private hotel room in Karachi. Captain Safdar was shifted to Aziz Bhatti police station after being arrested in the case of violation of Mazar-e-Quaid.
Maryam Nawaz said that the police broke down the door of the room and arrested Captain (R) Safdar while I was staying in a hotel in Karachi.
Protection and Maintenance Ordinance-1971
The police lodged a case against Safdar and 200 other unidentified associates of the party for violating the provisions of “Quaid-e-Azam’s Mazar (Protection and Maintenance) Ordinance-1971”.
The Quaid’s mausoleum, which is declared “a historical monument of national importance” is maintained and protected under a special law.
The ordinance, “The Quaid-i-Azam’s Mazar (Protection and Maintenance) Ordinance, 1971”, prohibits all kinds of demonstrations and political activities within the premises.
It states: “No person shall organize, convene or take part in any meeting or demonstration or procession or engage in political: activity of any kind within the Quaid-i-Azam’s Mazar or within a distance of ten feet from the outer boundary thereof.”
It also bars from carrying out any act or behaving in any manner which is derogatory to the sanctity and dignity.
Under the ordinance, whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
“An offense punishable under this ordinance shall be tried in a summary way in accordance with the provisions contained in sections 262 to 265 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.”
PPP reaction after the arrest of Safdar
On a social media website Twitter, Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that whatever Safdar had done at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam was inappropriate but the way Karachi Police carried out the arrest is condemnable.
He said that Safdar had not been arrested at the direction of the Sindh government as this act of the police was part of a conspiracy to cause a gulf among the component parties of the PDM. He said that they would fail this conspiracy.
In a statement, PML (N) leader and former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair said that the Sindh Police had been pressurized to lodge the criminal case against Safdar.
He said that the Sindh chief minister had himself confirmed that there had been immense pressure on the Sindh Police.
Meanwhile, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned Safdar’s arrest, promising his wife, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, that the provincial government was holding an inquiry into the matter.
Speaking to Maryam over the telephone, the PPP chairman expressed solidarity with the PML-N leader and said that the way Safdar was arrested is against the traditions of Sindh.
He said that the Sindh government was not informed about the arrest and has asked the Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to investigate the arrest and take all steps to secure the PML-N leader’s release.
Safdar released on bail
A Judicial Magistrate East on Monday approved retired Captain Safdar’s bail and ordered him to submit surety bonds worth Rs100,000.
The development comes shortly after PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, addressing a press conference, had said that her husband, Safdar, had been released on bail.
Need for national dialogue
Amidst this political uncertainty in the country, the layman is suffering. It is true that the PTI government has failed to turn around the economy due to this political uncertainty.
Prices of essential commodities are getting out of reach even for middle-income people. PM Imran took notice of the price hike several times and chaired copious meetings however, there is no change on the ground.
The situation will only worsen if there are political uncertainty and instability because of the opposition-government confrontation. The country is also facing internal and external security challenges.
The external enemies would be happy to see this situation. The question is what is the way forward? If someone says there is no political crisis in the country surely he is living in a fool’s paradise. Therefore, all stakeholders need to acknowledge this bitter reality.
The challenges and crises we are confronted with can only be defeat if there is a consensus on the minimum agenda. That is only possible through negotiations.
