Follow Us on Google News
KARACHI: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday asserted that the survival of the country was at stake owing to incompetence of Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government.
The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief was addressing a PDM rally in Karachi, the first in a series of countrywide protests recently announced by the opposition alliance against rising inflation.
PDM leaders including Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mehmood Khan Ackakzai and several others also addressed the hundreds of workers gathered at the Regal Chowk, a busy intersection in the metropolis.
“If we do not push the ‘illegitimate’ rulers in the Arabian Sea anytime soon, then the survival of country will be in danger,” JUI-F chief said. He claimed ‘rising inflation’ had led to children being sold and parents killing themselves due to their inability to provide for them.
“Nations are strengthened … when their economies are stable and the people are prosperous but look at where this country is being taken,” he said, adding, “We are spending day and night by begging.”
Fazl added all segments of society including businessmen, traders, salaried class, labourers and others are disappointed with the incumbent government. “Politicians are the hope of the nation. If we do not play our role today, the nation will not forgive us,” he added.
Addressing the participants of the rally, PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said snap and transparent elections were the only way forward in resolving prevailing issues of the country.
He said the ruling PTI came into power through rigged elections and PDM’s struggle was aimed at ensuring supremacy of the Constitution in the country. Abbasi said people were not ready to accept the “incompetent and illegitimate government”.
Last week, the PDM announced that it would stage a series of rallies in the provincial capitals and finally a long march from Lahore to Islamabad to overthrow PTI-led government for its “anti-people policies”.
The decision was made at a meeting of the alliance in Islamabad held on November 6. The meeting mulled the overall political situation, rising inflation, the amended National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) as well as other issues.