The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief of the opposition, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, announced on Tuesday that the anti-inflationary long march will go ahead as planned on March 23, despite the government's efforts to prevent the coalition from being put on date. Coincides with the Pakistan Day Parade.
Apart from this, a day before i.e. on March 22, a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will be held in the capital, due to which curfew will be imposed.
Fazal seemed unimpressed by either of them, telling the media: "The PDM would enter Islamabad, and they knew there was going to be such a big march on that day. Under what conspiracy did they make such recommendations?"
"As far as the parade is concerned, it takes place from morning till noon and we have to come in the afternoon, so there is no dispute."
A multi-party session was held under the chairmanship of the PDM chief before the press conference to discuss the strategy for the long march against rising inflation and unemployment in the country.
Sources told Geo News that the meeting was also called to discuss in-house changes and the recommendations of the PDM Steering Committee in that regard. Sources further said that the foreign funding case against PTI will be reviewed as well as the Transparency International report which was released earlier today.
PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Maryam Aurangzeb were present in the meeting, while PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz attended the session via video link.
PDM rejects 'mini budget'
Fazlur Rehman said during a media briefing that the PDM "rejects the mini-budget" and demands that it be "withdrawn", with reference to the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021, passed by the National Assembly on January 13 .
"The way they are toys themselves, they have turned the country's economy into a game, and continue to make fun of people's rights every other day," he said.
He said the State Bank of Pakistan, even with the passage of the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, has been "enslaved" for the benefit of international institutions and is "eroding the sovereignty of Pakistan".
"Instead of being an independent state, we are rapidly turning into a colony," Fazal said.
"We value our freedom and under no circumstances can we allow any leader to stifle our freedom," he said.
Transparency International has 'artificial integrity exposed'
He said that slogans of "corruption" and "thieves" were regularly raised against the opposition, "and now, we see that Transparency International has mirrored them, exposing their artificial honesty".
The PDM chief said that in the corruption ranking of countries, Pakistan has come down from 117 to 140.
Fazal said in his usual dramatic tone, "If he had any shame, he would have drowned."
'New scheme of rigging machines'
He said that PTI has proved to be the "biggest failure, most incompetent and most corrupt [party]" and "despite all this, it is devising a new plan to rig the next election with the use of machines (electronic)." Voting Machine)".
"But people are aware and they will be crushed like flies and thrown out of power," Fazal said.
He said the PDM rejects the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), terming it "unconstitutional" and calling it a "failed experiment" across the world, which is being "forced" on the nation.
"We will not accept such election. It is another name for RTS (result transmission system)."
PDM demands 'ban' on PTI
The PDM chief said that PM Imran Khan has been "convicted" in the foreign funding case against PTI. "He has hidden about 22 accounts," Fazal said.
Keeping up with the PDM's demands of the Election Commission of Pakistan, he said that "the matter should be heard on a daily basis, Imran Khan should be disqualified, and his party should be banned".
"The entire party is corrupt, born out of corruption and illegal resources have been used to build it," he said.
'Presidential system another name for dictatorship'
Speaking about rumors that the government is planning to introduce a presidential system, he said that such a system "has always been another name for dictatorship".
He said the establishment of such a system is "an attempt to destroy the fundamental structure of the Constitution".
Fazal said such "unholy wishes" would never be allowed to be fulfilled and the opposition would "continue its fight to protect the Constitution".
Supporting PDM for various reasons
He also announced the support of the PDM for a number of issues such as farmers' distress with respect to non-availability of fertilizers, rights of Balochistan when it comes to the Reko Dik matter and its mineral resources, rights of Sindh over Bundal and Bundu islands, and the rights of the people of the merged districts.
Muri tragedy
Furthermore, he spoke of the Murri tragedy in which at least 22 people died,
Those who died in their vehicles amid unprecedented snowfall, said action was taken against "small players". He said Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and PM Imran Khan should be "retired instead".
Should have given it".
No confidence motion
Speaking about the feasibility of a no-confidence motion against the government, he said it would require "unity among all parties".