– Opposition Alliance decides to tender resignations only as last option
– PDM to start public mobilisation as weather situation improves
ISLAMABAD: The top leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Friday agreed to go for Senate elections, agreeing that the option of resignations should be adopted as last resort while it was also decided to start public mobilisation as the weather situation improves.
The PDM top brass was involved in a heated debate on the proposal of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari to contest elections of Senate and upcoming by-elections of assemblies.
An informed source told Pakistan Today that during the PDM meeting, all the parties decided to adopt a joint strategy and allay their differences, arguing that media should not be allowed to deepen their differences. They asserted that no one should take a solo flight and they should jointly wage the war to oust Imran Khan and to put the military establishment on the back foot.
The source said that the PDM leaders stood divided over Zardari’s proposal, as Nawaz Sharif and politicians from Balochistan supported Maulana Fazlur Rehmans proposal for resignations while Zardari was backed by the PPP leaders and other parties from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.
“During the meeting, former president Asif Ali Zardari said that we have to see the situation objectively. He said that the weather is cold and people are not coming out to protest rallies themselves. Hence, we must take wait for fairer weather. He also said that resignations should be our last bet, not the first option, ” the source said.
The source said that Zardari also cautioned that if the PDM goes for resignations immediately, the government may hold by-elections. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that if you talk about using the resignations option in a better manner, then there is no objection as per the well placed source. During the meeting, former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf floated the idea to submit no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, which infuriated Nawaz Sharif.
“Nawaz Sharif said that no confidence motion could not succeed without the help from the military establishment. He asked Ashraf whether he wanted PDM to seek assistance from the establishment? Any such move will cost money to manipulate and this work can never be done without the establishment, ” explained the insider present in the meeting. Akhtar Mengal also supported Nawaz Sharif’s assertion, which killed the possibility of a no confidence motion against Imran Khan.
The source said that Nawaz Sharif said that the decision regarding taking part in the Senate elections has to be taken very carefully. However, the source said, Asif Ali Zardari said that 12 to 14 seats can be easily won in the Senate elections by the PDM parties.
The source said that the PPP insisted on contesting the Senate elections while putting all the weight behind the PDM regarding resignations.
During the meeting, Asif Ali Zardari proposed that the PDM parties participate in the Senate and by-elections in any case. “Zardari said that even if we go to the Senate elections, we can make an impact. He took the position that the option of resignations should be used only when the people are angry against the government and come to the streets to protest against the government. He said that rallies and processions should be carried to influence public opinion once the weather conditions improve, ” the source said.
Zardari assured the PDM that the PPP was ready for resignations from the assemblies, but the strategy should not be disclosed to the media and should be a last resort. He proposed that when the resignations should be tabled, it should be kept as a surprise.
“Nawaz Sharif suggested that the decision should be made by the leaders themselves. Nawaz Sharif said that Shahbaz Sharif is always trapped by the establishment with rosy promises,” the source said, and added that Maulana Fazlur Rehman looked posied to the views expressed by Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif.
