Govt on crutches, will collapse under its own weight: PDM
October 07, 2020
LAHORE: PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, both prominent leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, warned the government on Wednesday that it would soon fall.
"We have decided to cross all hurdles," said the JUI-F chief, addressing the media jointly with Maryam. He said that there was no sign of "good governance" throughout the country. "We want to become a ray of hope for the people of Pakistan."
However, information minister Shibli Faraz spoke to Geo News, countered the PDM's criticism, alleging that Maryam was raising "unnecessary issues" and that Fazl, on the other hand, had become "politically irrelevant".
Fazl said that the upcoming public rallies of the alliance will attract large crowds, adding that its upcoming Gujranwala and Karachi public gatherings will be "huge shows".
Speaking to media, Maryam lashed out at the government, criticising a recent statement by Prime Minister Imran Khan in which he said that India is happy because of Nawaz Sharif's speeches.
"India becomes happy when the economy becomes bankrupt," she said. "India becomes happy when the 'Fall of Kashmir' takes place. India becomes happy when you present Kashmir on a tray to them," she added.
Speaking about the PDM's upcoming public gathering in Gujranwala, she said that the government had already gotten scared of the movement. Maryam said that the people of Pakistan were looking towards the PDM with hopes.
"Insha'Allah, I want to assure people that we will not fall short of their expectations under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman," she said.
The PML-N leader said that Fazl will attend the Gujranwala gathering of the alliance and she will also invite PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to participate in it as well.
Responding to a question, Maryam said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and she did not need to prove their patriotic credentials to anyone. "These are cards that are taken out and used time and again, we have been witnessing this," she said. "At times the patriotism card is pulled out [against the PML-N], at times they pull out the religion card. At times, dharnas take place out of nowhere," she said.
"Maryam Nawaz is the daughter of this country and Nawaz Sharif is a son of the soil. We do not need to prove anything to anyone."
Responding to a question, Fazl said that the PDM and the PML-N were not against the Pakistan Army.
Fazl politically irrelevant, Maryam raising 'unnecessary issues': Faraz
Speaking to Geo News, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz hit back at the opposition, saying that the JUI-F chief wanted an election according to his own desire.
He criticised the PDM leader for accepting the results of his son's victory but rejecting them when it came to the constituencies his party lost.
"He wants to contest [elections] in front of an umpire that is his own, nominated by him and comes up with the results he desires," said the minister.
Faraz said that Fazl had become "politically irrelevant" hence he was trying to do something that would propel him once again into the limelight. "The people of Pakistan will not accept him," he said.
The minister criticised Maryam as well, saying that she was trying to instigate the people to defend her corruption. "Her moral standing is quite damaged, I don't think anyone will take her call [to protest] seriously," he said.
He said that the PDM leaders were "campaigning for their personal interests" and that it was up to the people whether or not they wanted to support persons who were struggling only for their vested interests.
Responding to her criticism on the government's Kashmir policy, Faraz said that the PML-N vice president was twisting every issue and trying to project it in front of the public as she wanted them to see it.
"The public does not have any interest in these matters," he said, adding that Maryam was raising "unnecessary issues".
Imran scared of Pakistan Democratic Movement, says Fazl
Earlier, The JUI-F chief had spoken to media where in response to a question about PM Imran Khan's statement that the government had nothing to fear from the 11-party alliance, he said that the prime minister was scared.
"He [PM Imran Khan] is sweating [profusely]," said Fazl. "You have no idea."
Read more: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman appointed PDM's first leader
Speaking about the PDM's movement, the JUI-F chief had said that the first couple of rallies held by the PDM will create "emotions and effects" of change in the country.
"The public awaits the success of the PDM jalsas," he had said, adding that the alliance's plan including "going to Islamabad" as well. Fazl did not specify whether the opposition intended to stage protests in the capital or hold a dharna like the Azadi March from last year.
When asked whether the absence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and ex-president Asif Zardari will be felt in the PDM rallies, Fazl had a message for the leadership of both parties.
"We have a message for the leadership of both parties. We will not let the absence of your leaders be felt," he had said, urging masses to turn up at the protests in huge numbers.
Fazl said that the PDM believed in stability and that the perception that there will be a clash with state institutions was wrong. "We should ask ourselves with a cool mind, how do we take the country forward?" he had asked.
The JUI-F chief had spoken about the PDM's upcoming rally in Gujranwala on October 16, saying that the alliance will ensure all efforts to make it a successful power show.
"The current government is an inept one," he had said. "It cannot be referred to as a government that is representative of the people. We support the demands of the protesting government employees in Islamabad," he added.
PDM to bring political revolution in Pakistan: Marriyum Aurangzeb
Earlier, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had said political revolution in the country would be possible only through the PDM.
Addressing a press conference, Aurangzeb had said that the PML-N has never been as united and powerful in history as it is today and that the government built a "false narrative of accountability" from 2018-2020.
"The NAB-Niazi nexus has been exposed," the PML-N spokesperson had said, adding that when the government could not find anything on the Opposition leaders, it initiated "conspiracies of treason".
Aurangzeb had alleged that the federal cabinet meetings are held to determine who the next "target" will be. "The government is filling the pockets of the mafia instead of the people."
The PML-N leader, lamenting over the surging inflation, said that the price of vegetables had increased up to 45% and that it had hiked due to the government's "incompetence".
"The incumbent government is corrupt that is why it has bowed down before the sugar and wheat mafia," she had said, adding: "According to the Bureau of Statistics, there is no item whose price has not increased."
Aurangzeb had said that a "false conspiracy" was hatched against Shehbaz Sharif through an article and that the Chinese and UK government had "rejected the claims against him".
"PML-N leaders are being silenced because they speak against the surging inflation," she said, adding that the joint Opposition would send the government home.
"We aren't afraid of the accusations of treason [...] Pakistanis are aware of who developed the country," Aurangzeb had stated.
