Defeat has brought them together, Fawad criticizes PPP, PML-N

BEIJING: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday slammed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), saying that the Opposition’s defeat in the Senate had brought them together.

The Senate had last month passed the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2021 amid an outcry from the Opposition, where they enjoy a majority.

“The humiliating defeat that they suffered in the Senate has resulted in today’s meeting and they will face similar defeats in the future,” Chaudhry said while addressing a press conference from Beijing shortly after PML-N and PPP decided to use “all options” to oust the government.

Fawad said with time, the “desperation of Pakistan Democratic Movement” is increasing, and they have started to lose patience. “They believe they might face defeat in the next elections. Therefore, they have decided to join hands and contest elections,” Chaudhry said.

The information minister further said whenever any government seeks to bring the “money they have stashed abroad or try to put a stop to the crimes they commit”, the Opposition starts coming together.

Chaudhry said PM Imran Khan is the most popular leader of the country and the incumbent “does not care” about the Opposition parties uniting to oust his government. “It has never bothered us in the past, and neither will it bother us in the future.”

PML-N, PPP ready to use ‘all options at disposal’

A few hours before the information minister’s presser, PPP and PML-N agreed to use all legal and political options at their disposal to dismiss the incumbent PTI-led government.

“If we want to save this country from destruction, then we will have to get rid of this government,” Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif said.

Shahbaz was addressing a press conference alongside PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, and other Opposition leaders.

The press conference came after Former president Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal attended a luncheon at the residence of the opposition leader in the National Assembly.