Tag: Pakistan Democratic Movement

  • Sheikh Rasheed warns of terror threat against Opposition’s long march, urges them to defer plan

    Sheikh Rasheed warns of terror threat against Opposition’s long march, urges them to defer plan

     Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has urged the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to defer its long march, warning the Opposition of a potential terror threat.

    “Both Prime Minister Imran Khan and I love this country as much you (Opposition) do, but remember there is a terrorism threat on March 23,” he added.

    The minister said that he is not “afraid of PDM’s long march but there are terrorism threats”, adding that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was also told not to stage a procession in Rawalpindi because of security reasons but she went ahead with it despite the warnings.

    “Half of Islamabad will be under the control of [the government] and jammers will be installed there,” said Rasheed, adding that on March 23, foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries will attend the Pakistan Day parade.

    “How will the Opposition [mark its influence] under such circumstances?” the minister questioned. 

    Rasheed said that he would suggest that the PDM show “strength in Islamabad on March 17 or 27”.

    Rasheed further said that after India faced its “biggest defeat” in Afghanistan, its intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was now paying local criminals in Pakistan to sabotage peace here.

    Shedding light on talks between the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Rasheed said the talks were not being held anymore.

    “Talks are not possible with those [elements] who are against the integrity of Pakistan,” he underlined.

  • Bilawal offers to rejoin PDM but has some conditions

    Bilawal offers to rejoin PDM but has some conditions

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that there is now a high probability of the Opposition parties working together in the future.

    The PPP chairperson while talking to reporters outside the Parliament House on Tuesday said, “If they [Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)] are ready to withdraw their stance on the issue of en-mass resignations and consider my proposal of bringing a no-confidence motion, then certainly there is a possibility that we can work together.”

    He said all parties have to play their role. “We have to dislodge the government, no matter the number of marches we have to take.”

    He said his party’s reservations regarding the prices of essential commodities being multiplied due to the mini-budget had proved correct as Pakistan had already been facing an economic crisis before the mini-budget, which has now led to a historic price hike, unemployment, and poverty. “People are being crushed under this burden,” he said.

    Bilawal Bhutto along with former Prime Minister (PM) Yusuf Raza Gilani, said that they protested inside and outside the Parliament against the mini-budget. They were promised that tax will not be imposed on a few items, but that was false as well.

    “The people of Pakistan are demanding that we take to the streets against this government and our CEC has decided that we will take to the streets on February 27,” added Bilawal.

  • PDM determined to hold long march three months from now

    PDM determined to hold long march three months from now

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is determined to hold a long march on Pakistan Day.

    The Opposition alliance on Tuesday pledged to reach Islamabad on March 23 and warned the authorities against any attempt to use force to prevent the marchers from entering the federal capital.

    “So far, we have decided to reach Islamabad. The duration of the stay will be decided [by the leadership] after reaching the capital,” said PDM spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah.

    “We will come. Stop us Asad Umar, if you can,” said Hamdullah, referring to Asad Umar’s statement where the latter said if PDM staged a long march to Islamabad to topple the government, “the people gathered in the public meeting will thrash you“.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had called out the PDM for announcing a long march on Pakistan Day as an “extremely irresponsible and immoral” move.

  • ‘Highly irresponsible and immoral’: Sheikh Rasheed calls out PDM for holding march on Pakistan Day

    ‘Highly irresponsible and immoral’: Sheikh Rasheed calls out PDM for holding march on Pakistan Day

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed called out the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for announcing a long march on March 23, Pakistan Day, as an “extremely irresponsible and immoral” move.

    PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that the Opposition alliance will hold an “anti-inflation march” in Islamabad on March 23.

    “The federal capital is put on high alert for preparations of the parade. Even some roads are barricaded two to three days in advance,” added Sheikh Rasheed.

  • ‘People gathered in the public meeting will thrash the Oppostion’: Asad Umar

    Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar in a public meeting on Friday warned the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) if it staged a long march to Islamabad to topple the government, “the people gathered in the public meeting will thrash you,” reports Dawn.

    His comments come after the Opposition is considering bringing a no-confidence motion against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani or National Assembly(NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser as a tester to confirm the present strength of treasury in parliament.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khurram Dastagir said on a Dawn News TV show that the motion would be moved soon. They said if the motion became successful, then a similar motion could be moved against the prime minister.

    Dastagir said: “The motion can be moved within two months against the Senate chairman or the NA Speaker.”

    Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said at a press conference that “the coalition parties have also expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan”.

    The minister said these words after the premier held a third meeting on Friday with the leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a week amid “shattered” confidence of allies in the government’s working and the Opposition’s threat to topple the government.

  • Bilawal Bhutto meets Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    Bilawal Bhutto meets Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari meets Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman today in Islamabad.

    Geo News reported that the PPP made contact with PDM after having resigned from all PDM offices in April 2021, saying that no party “should try and impose their will and dictation on any other political party”. 

    The meeting comes after the Opposition parties have “united” to adopt a joint strategy against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    Members of the united Opposition on Thursday met National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser twice and asked him to give them in writing the terms of engagements, which should include a categorical statement that it was the government that approached them for dialogue.

    “We are going to communicate to the Speaker that he should give us in writing because we do not want to hear that we (the Opposition) have been pressing for a dialogue,” said Sherry Rehman.

  • Opposition unites to form anti-govt strategy over inflation

    Opposition unites to form anti-govt strategy over inflation

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif Friday made a telephone call to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to discuss the rising inflation in the country.

    Both leaders discussed a joint strategy of the Opposition against price hike and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amended Ordinance in the parliament.

    Shehbaz’s son, Hamza Shehbaz, also proposed that the time has come that all Opposition parties sit together and work out a ‘constitutional solution’ to get rid of this anti-people government, as Shehbaz is optimistic that the PPP may join the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) at some stage for a joint movement against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, reports Dawn.

    The Opposition slammed Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government for increasing petroleum prices once again and setting a new record in the country’s history.

    “Yet another petrol bomb exploded on the masses in the dead of night. This is IK’s way of providing ‘relief’ after giving a long sermon yesterday. Unfortunately, every day dawns with horrible news for the people. This incompetent/corrupt PTI govt & Pakistan can’t go together,” Shehbaz tweeted.

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari took to Twitter and wrote, “Govt increase petrol in the dead of night by Rs8. Increase of almost 20rs in less than a month.”

  • ‘No one has the guts to blackmail the state, TLP will be treated as a militant party in Pak’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘No one has the guts to blackmail the state, TLP will be treated as a militant party in Pak’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry in a hard-hitting press conference on Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) ongoing protests, said, “No one has the guts to blackmail the state.”

    “TLP will be treated as a militant party and not a political party in Pakistan. Other institutions [in Pakistan] should also realise their role in this matter. It is the duty of all the institutions to fulfil their duty in this regard,” said Fawad.

    “Just like we dealt with all terrorist organisations, TLP shall be dealt in the same manner,” said the minister.

    “In today’s cabinet meeting, it was decided that such activities will not be tolerated. We will not tolerate those who challenge the writ of the state,” he said, adding that the Pakistani state had defeated major terrorist organisation such as Al Qaeda.

    “No one should make the mistake of thinking that the state is weak. Those who made this mistake later realised they were wrong.”

    “No one has the guts to blackmail the state. We have acted in a restrained manner and not once used power. This is a matter of respect for our country and the safety of every citizen,” added Fawad.

    Warning the people spreading fake news on the matter, Fawad said, “We will come hard on you. And this will not be tolerated.”

    The minister’s remarks came as fresh violence erupted between law enforcers and TLP supporters near Sadhoke in Punjab’s Gujranwala district on Wednesday. At least four policemen were martyred and dozens injured.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands, reports Geo News.

    “The government will not allow violence for political purposes,” PM Khan.

    “The government and the state are on one page regarding the protests, the protesters will be dealt with severely if they try to enter Islamabad,” said the premier.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, “If Imran Khan’s sit-in was legitimate when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was in the Opposition, then why isn’t TLP’s long march justified.”

  • Jam Kamal Khan resigns as Balochistan chief minister

    Jam Kamal Khan resigns as Balochistan chief minister

    Chief Minister (CM) Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan tendered his resignation to Governor Balochistan Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha, which was confirmed on Sunday.

    Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha accepted his resignation soon after Jam Kamal sent it to him, reports Dawn.

    Taking to Twitter, Kamal wrote, “And after many thoughts and reasoning and not let Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) put further cracks in us. I put my resignation with a consensus.”

    Earlier, Kamal lay the blame for any loss in Balochistan’s development squarely on the PDM, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), some Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) members, and a “few mafias” and suggested that Prime Minister Imran Khan take a good look at “his people”.

    CM Khan also said that the prime minister should tell certain federal members to not “fiddle” with Balochistan’s internal matters and give some “space to the PTI’s provincial hierarchy” so that it can play its role at the provincial level in Balochistan.

    Jam Kamal Khan is the fourth chief minister who has resigned to avoid a no-trust motion.

  • ‘Ladlay ki niki niki khawaahishein puri hogayi hain’: Saleem Safi takes a dig at PM Khan

    ‘Ladlay ki niki niki khawaahishein puri hogayi hain’: Saleem Safi takes a dig at PM Khan

    Senior journalist Saleem Safi, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said, “Ladlay ki niki niki khawaahishein puri hogayi hain” [ Favourite’s small small wishes have been fulfilled]. Safi was alluding to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. His comments come in connection to the notification of the appointment of the new Director-General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. The sources close to the PM Khan said that most probably the notification of the new appointment would be issued on Friday (today).

    Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada further asked Safi that the Opposition is on the roads against the government but the ruling party seems very relaxed and if there is any strategy behind this because they do not consider the protests of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) a threat.

    “Where is the Opposition? I have not seen any Opposition in this country for the past three years. The tragedy is such that the ones who have been given the government do not know how to do governance and the ones in the Opposition do not know how to do Opposition,” replied Safi.

    Khanzada questioned senior journalist Asma Shirazi if there is any political strategy with which the Opposition plans on ousting the sitting government?

    “Definitely a strategy will be made. The Opposition is relaxed and just reviewing what is happening right now. There is a lot of miss trust with the institutions,” replied Shriazi.