"If this country is to be saved from destruction, we have to get rid of this government," says Shahbaz Sharif.
Lahore: The two main opposition parties - PPP and PML-N - on Wednesday reached a consensus on using all legal and political options to topple the PTI-led government.
The development came to light during a lunch hosted by the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif at his residence in Model Town, Lahore.
PPP President Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb and others were present on the occasion.
Talking to reporters after lunch, Shahbaz Sharif said, "If we have to save this country from destruction, then we have to get rid of this government."
Shahbaz said there would be consultation meetings first within the PML-N's Central Executive Committee and then with the PDM. He said a joint anti-government strategy would be prepared after the meetings.
"If we don't shake hands and don't come on the same page, the nation will not forgive us. We talked deeply about the option of a no-confidence motion [against PM Imran Khan]."
Shahbaz said the participants of the meeting also tried to build a consensus on the anti-government long march and two to three recommendations were also made.
The PPP has announced that they will conduct a long march from Karachi to Islamabad against the PTI government on February 27. Meanwhile, the PDM has decided to take out a long march on 23 March (Pakistan Day) against the rising inflation.
Shahbaz accused the government of "constantly lying to the people" and claimed that the country had never seen such a deteriorating situation since the inception of Pakistan.
"The PTI-led government has today failed on all fronts [...] We see nothing but destruction and devastation before us today."
'Improved relations between PML-N and PPP will pose a threat to the government'
For his part, Bilawal said he had discussed his party's strategy against the government with Shahbaz and other PML-N leaders in today's meeting.
"We discussed matters in detail. We came to the conclusion that a decision [with regard to removing the government] is very important, given the burden of rising inflation on the public."
Bilawal said that despite the PPP's differences with the PML-N in the past, the party is ready to keep them apart "for a bigger cause". He said that better working relations between PML-N and PPP would pose a threat to the government.
Bilawal said he welcomed the PDM's long march, but did not respond to a question whether the PPP would join it.
Mary's opinion on the handshake
Maryam was asked about her differences with Bilawal and how they would take their working relationship forward. To this, he said differences exist between political parties, but we are "ready to stand united for the sake of the people".
Bilawal also said: "We are ready to take all possible steps to remove Imran Khan."