Daily Times

The PDM on Sunday announced that it will give a decisive outline of its campaign against sitting government on November 14.

“On November 13, the steering committee will hold a meeting where all parties will give their recommendations for a future roadmap. On November 14, the PDM leadership will hold another meeting in Islamabad which will give a decisive outline to the recommendations put forward by the steering committee,” said PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman while speaking to the media after the conclusion of a meeting, a private TV channel reported.

Fazlur Rehman said that the movement aims to ramp up its campaign in the backdrop of the country’s political situation as well as the “most urgent issue” of the economic crisis it faces. He said that several leaders attended the meeting, while representatives of others were present. From the PPP, Asif Ali Zardari and from the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif attended the meeting via video link.

The PDM chief said that in the backdrop of the various issues that plague Pakistan, PDM’s future road map was debated in the meeting. “A person is no longer able to lead a dignified life (in Pakistan),” said the PDM chief. “PDM has decided to take our movement forward and a schedule for more rallies in the various cities of Pakistan was discussed,” he said.

Fazlur Rehman said in PDM’s view, the movement’s real purpose is to restore democracy and the rule of Constitution in Pakistan. The 11-party movement has decided to draft an agreement, Fazl said, adding that the steering committee would meet on November 13, where all the parties would bring forward their recommendations. “Through the parties’ recommendations, a mutual agreement will be made,” he said. On November 14, in Islamabad, the party leaders will convene and deliberate on the recommendations of the steering committee and give the agreement a final shape.

Talking about meeting, he said that the “disrespect” shown to the Sindh police’s high command and the incident that had transpired in Karachi with regard to Maryam Nawaz and retired Capt Safdar Awan was once again condemned. He said it had been three weeks since the Karachi incident, but a report has not yet been brought forward.

He said that despite members of the opposition facing cases launched by the National Accountability Bureau and other institutions, a decision in the case of “PTI’s foreign funding” was still pending. The PDM chief went on to say that while cases are being filed against the Opposition leaders, there is “silence” when it comes to PTI-leader Jahangir Tareen’s “corruption”.

He expressed serious concerns over the delay in investigation of PML-N leader Captain (retd) Safdar’s alleged arrest under duress from his hotel room in Karachi last month. “Despite the assurance of army chief that investigation would be completed in 10 days no headway has been made after passing of three weeks,” Fazlur Rehman said.

The multi-party alliance held its first rally in Gujranwala on October 16, second in Karachi on October 18 and the third one in Quetta on October 25. The PDM is yet to hold its rallies in Peshawar, Multan and Lahore – scheduled for November 22, November 30 and December 13 respectively.