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After losing the two prime slots of chairman and deputy chairman in the Senate the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) appeared to be in tatters due to serious divergence on the issue of legislators’ resignations from assemblies and the choice over opposition leader for the upper house, which forced it to postpone the scheduled anti-government long march.
Internal rifts among opposition alliance
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) the 11-party coalition, is facing serious infighting over the selection of opposition leader of the upper house and submitting resignations along with the Anti-government long march.
After the success of former Prime Minister and PPP senior leader Yousaf Raza Gilani in securing his Senate seat from the federal capital, it was agreed that he would be made Chairman and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri would be made deputy and leader of the opposition would be from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Although, in the given situations PML-N leaders have said that it will not step back from the opposition leader’s slot even though PPP has more senators in the opposition. The 10 parties among PDM in so many words have conveyed to the PDM leadership that according to the fixed formula the leader of the opposition slot will remain with PML-N.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) appeared to be in tatters on Tuesday after they failed to reach any agreement during eight hours long discussion on thorny issues like the anti-government long march, resignations and selection of opposition leader in the Senate which forced it to postpone the scheduled long march against the government.
Postponement of long march announced
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday announced that the long march scheduled for March 26 has been postponed. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the PDM in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said nine PDM parties had agreed on the suggestion to submit resignations along with the long march.
However, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had concerns over linking the resignations with the march and had sought time to hold talks within its Central Executive Committee before informing the PDM of its choice.
Rehman said they have given them the time and will wait for PPP’s decision. Until then, the March 26 long march will be considered postponed, he added. The PDM chief left the press conference suddenly following the announcement and did not respond when Maryam Nawaz asked him out to take questions to reporters.
PPP links resignations with Nawaz’s return
In a rude shock to the Pakistan Democratic Movement, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari told to PDM that his party’s lawmakers won’t resign from assemblies at any cost.
While addressing the meeting of the PDM in Lahore through a video link, Zardari asked PML-N founder Nawaz Sharif to return back to Pakistan to wage a decisive battle against the government.
The PPP co-chairman stated that the decision to submit mass resignations from assemblies will result in strengthening Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and the establishment.
Zardari said he himself served a 14-year-long jail term so if Nawaz Sharif is serious in his battle for democracy, then he should fly back to Pakistan. The former president also criticized PML-N leader Ishaq Dar, saying he did not take part in Senate polls despite the fact that each vote matters.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz asked Asif Ali Zardari to guarantee that the life of her father will not be endangered on his return. Maryam Nawaz Sharif while talking to Asif Zardari said “My father’s life is in danger, how can he return home? if he comes to Pakistan, his life will be in danger.”
Political elite protecting own interests exposed
The deadline that the PDM had set for the Prime Minister Imran to resign has come and gone as the political elites come into the battle to protect their own interest while the ruling party is looking more confident than ever.
The first real symptoms of cracks beneath the façade came in November on the issue of bunches’ resignation from the assemblies, and whether to do so before or after the Senate polls. Now they are clearly exposed after the rifts, to save their own political interest.
Sadly, they also misread the relationship between the PTI and the establishment as well as they also fly dirt on national intuitions. The dominos did not collapse the way the opposition leaders assumed they would.
Mutually shared solutions a need of the hour
Since 1947 nation is trapped in a vicious circle, and it’s hard to get rid of this impious circle with the current political system.
internal political instability, high inflation rate, poverty, massive unemployment, human rights violation, discrimination, corruption, economic problem, low level of domestic and foreign direct investment, energy shortage, wrecked infrastructure, weak and self-centered political leader ruined the country.
These issues and the effectiveness and credibility of political parties have a primary and severe impact on the nature and success of democracy. The nation seeks a clear direction, reassurance, and unity among public representatives so that they work together to responsibly and purposefully tackle the challenges.
Pakistan can achieve greater political and societal harmony and democratic governance if the political leaders find mutually shared solutions to public issues by avoiding victimize their political opponents.
