PDM to hold 'Mehngai March' instead of long march

Long march towards the federal capital and resignation from the assemblies are part of the agenda.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – An important meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the 11-party opposition alliance, is underway in Islamabad to formulate strategy for the long march, resignations from assemblies and upcoming senate election.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz attended the meeting, while former PM and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former President and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari participated through video link.

Former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Sherry Rehman, Nayyar Bukhari, Farhatullah Babar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Pervez Rashid, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Saad Rafique, Ayaz Sadiq and Maryam Aurangzeb also attended the meeting.

Aftab Sherpao, Owais Noorani, Akram Durrani, Mahmood Achakzai, Sajid Mir, Dr Malik, Amir Haider Hoti, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, the bigwigs of the 11-party opposition alliance decided to change the name of long march to ‘Mehngai March’ (march against inflation).

According to sources, long march towards the federal capital and resignation from the assemblies are part of the agenda.

Sources said that tabling of no-confidence motion against the government suggested by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also come under discussion during the meeting.

Earlier on Wednesday, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had a telephonic conversation to formulate a political strategy for the future.

The two opposition leaders discussed PDM’s strategy going forward, with the PML-N leader agreeing with Fazlur Rehman’s suggestions. According to sources, Nawaz Sharif extended full support to resignations, long march and sit-in.

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz also called on head of PDM and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on Wednesday night.

Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah and party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also accompanied Maryam Nawaz during her visit to the residence of JUI-F chief.

According to sources, discussion was held to formulate future strategy of anti-government campaign during the meeting. They also discussed the agenda of PDM, as well as a message sent earlier today by the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.