ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of 11 opposition parties, has announced countrywide protests against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government over rising inflation, the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general election, and other policy decisions, local media reported on Monday.
The development comes days after the government increased the price of petrol by Rs10.49 per liter and that of high-speed diesel by Rs12.44 per liter, which in turn pushed up the prices of basic commodities.
“Our demand is to hold a [fresh] general election,” Geo News quoted PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as saying as he announced countrywide protests and strikes from October 20. “The PDM wants a democratic and constitutional system in the country. We have to work hard and stand firm; the result is in the hands of Allah.”
A major bone of contention between the government and opposition parties is the government’s plan to introduce electronic voting machines in the next general election.
“The government, which has come into power as a result of rigging, has no right to give a formula for free and fair elections in the country,” the PDM chief said, referring to widespread allegations that the 2018 election was engineered in favor of Khan, an accusation he denies.
Rehman also criticized the government for the closure of border crossings with Afghanistan and Iran, and the recently promulgated National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, which curtails the jurisdiction of the country’s anti-corruption watchdog by excluding key government entities from the ambit of investigations.
This is not the first time the PDM has announced protests against the incumbent government. Since its formation in September 2020, the alliance has held several rallies across the country in an attempt to pressure PM Khan into stepping down.
But the opposition alliance has so far failed to achieve its desired results.
Earlier this year, the PDM announced a march on Islamabad, but canceled it following rifts between opposition parties over a decision on whether or not to resign en masse from parliament.