ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition parties on Thursday chalked out a strategy for anti-government protests that are scheduled to begin from tomorrow to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government through street agitation.
The opposition factions recently formed an alliance — the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — to address public gatherings across the country in a move to build pressure on the government for early general elections.
In a huddle at the residence of PDM chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad, the opposition pledged to go ahead with its planned public rallies, with the first one scheduled to be held in Gujranwala tomorrow despite arrests of its workers.
“This government is the product of election rigging, and it has badly failed to deliver,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain, PDM information-secretary, told the media after the meeting.
Prime Minister Khan’s PTI party came to power in August 2018 after defeating all major opposition parties in general elections. The opposition alliance has, however, accused the ruling administration of election irregularities while demanding fresh polls in the country. The government vehemently denies the rigging charge.
“We are out on the streets for transparent elections, and our program is completely peaceful,” Hussain said, adding that all segments of the society, including health workers, teachers and even government employees, were protesting against the government’s flawed policies.
“Who voted for you when people from all walks of life are protesting against you,” he questioned the government, adding that the PTI administration was arresting political workers to limit their strength in the Gujranwala rally.
The government’s all policies, including foreign, interior and education, had failed, he said, adding that it had also failed to control inflation which was directly affecting the common man.
It was decided that all opposition leaders would travel to the site of public gathering in Gujranwala from their respective areas in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces along with their party workers. As per the plan, they would also hold a public rally in Karachi on October 18 and in Quetta on October 25.
The government has formally allowed the opposition alliance to hold the public gathering at a designated site in Gujranwala city.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-premier and senior leader of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would also address the gathering through a video link.
Sharif is currently in London for medical treatment, though local courts have issued his arrest warrants and directed the government to bring him back to face the corruption cases.
Responding to the opposition, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said the government had allowed the opposition to hold the public gathering as “protest is right of every political party.”
“The opposition parties have united to protect their looted money,” he added in a video message to the media.
