Pakistan
PDM to 'win struggle for Pakistan's survival': Fazlur Rehman
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Fazlur Rehman said on Saturday that the Opposition alliance was fighting for the country's survival and that it would win in this struggle.
"We will win this war, and Pakistan will have a government that is truly representative of the people, which will understand the problems faced by the masses. The ones who were imposed are not aware of the public's issues," Fazl said, while addressing a PDM protest in Karachi.
The PDM has ramped up its anti-government protests, with the first of the new wave of protests taking place in Karachi. The next will be held in Quetta on November 17 and in Peshawar on November 20.
"This journey, which has started from Karachi, will continue and we will march to Lahore, and from there, we will go to Islamabad," Fazl said.
In meetings between various party leaders, such as a day earlier between Fazl and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and a telephone call today between the JUI-F chief and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, the Opposition agreed to step up the pressure on the government.
The government has been issuing statements to show it is undeterred by the Opposition alliance, with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry saying that protests are PDM's "winter activity".
PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in his address to the gathering, claimed the Opposition does not seek power, rather it seeks to end the rising inflation in the country.
"The incumbent government is making people suffer the only way to solve the country's problems is to run it in line with the constitution and hold immediate free and fair elections," he said.
Addressing the rally, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) President Mahmood Khan Achakzai said PDM was "not formed because we were all sitting free and just decided to".
He said the country's political parties had worked hard to form the constitution, and no country in the world can run without one.