PDM asks ANP, PPP to return to coalition

In a briefing the media on Tuesday after a meeting of the leaders of the coalition of opposition parties in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that PDM was formed by ten parties and all parties have equal status but where it is a coalition of ten parties, there also exists a formal organizational structure.

ہمیں توقع نہیں تھی وہ باپ کو باپ بنائیں گے، اب بھی ان کے لیے موقع ہے کہ اپنے فیصلوں پر نظرثانی کریں، مولانا فضل الرحمان #GNNUpdates #GNN #Breaking_News @PTIofficial @pmln_org @MediaCellPPP @BBhuttoZardari @MaryamNSharif #PDM #Fazlurrehman pic.twitter.com/cWQjHivYEl

— GNN (@gnnhdofficial) April 13, 2021

Flanked with opposition leaders of the alliance, Maulana told the media that the PDM was not formed to fight for positions among themselves or to decide matters on their own. A written consensus for the posts of Senate Chairman, Deputy Chairman and the Leader of the Opposition was prepared.

According to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, “It was the organizational requirement to seek clarification from the parties those violated ToRs,” whereas “most of the decisions in this alliance have come before the people by mutual consent,”

While clarifying his position of issuing a show-cause notice to ANP and PPP, the PDM head said that he had sought clarification regarding the complaint he got from other members of the alliance.

“We asked for a response but it is unfortunate that instead of answering, PPP and ANP submitted the resignations from PDM posts,” he added.

Talking about the parties leaving the PDM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, "Create maturity and respect in politics."

“We have the right to complain, we have the right to seek clarification” and The attitude both parties have adopted should not be monitored.

Following the PDM leaders press conference, ANP and PPP leaders were also removed from the official WhatsApp group.

پیپلز پارٹی اور اے این پی کی علیحدگی کے بعد رہنماوں کو واٹس ایپ گروپ سے بھی نکال دیا گیا #GNNUpdates #GNN #Breaking_News @MediaCellPPP @pmln_org @PTIofficial @MaryamNSharif @BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/IgeKz0g404

— GNN (@gnnhdofficial) April 13, 2021

Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had announced to resign from all posts of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as a protesting gesture following the issuance of show cause notice.

While addressing a presser, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that he rejects the so-called show-cause notice and demanded an unconditional apology from PDM to the ANP and to the PPP for this obnoxious attitude. “The Central Executive Committee (CEC) has rejected the show-cause notice of PDM. There is no show-cause notice in a political alliance. All of our party members are resigning from the positions of PDM as a protest,” he said adding that Politics is done with equality and respect.

Referring to the issue of resignations, Bilawal said that the party leadership has reached a consensus that they would not resign from the assemblies at this stage, terming the move as the option of last resort.

“Those who want to resign from the assemblies can do it. No political party has the right to impose its decisions on other parties. We believe that resignations should be the last resort like an atom bomb. The by-elections have proved the ruling party has lost the majority support of people,” he said.

He further said that PPP believes in politics of equality and justice adding that their doors are open for everyone. “We are ready to talk to anyone who wants to fight against this incompetent government,” he added.

PPP's stance that opposition should not abandon the Parliament and the Senate battleground had been vindicated. If we had listened to other political parties and left the grounds of senate and by-elections, it would have harmed the process of democracy. Even when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was in power, we protected the Parliament,” he said.

The Awami National Party (ANP) earlier parted ways with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

The decision was announced by ANP leader Ameer Haider Khan Hoti during a press conference in Peshawar. The party has blamed certain parties belonging to the Opposition alliance for seeking to promote their agenda.

ANP leaders Zaid Khan, Shahi Syed, Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Ameer Haider Khan Hoti while talking at a news conference said that an emergency meeting of the party was conveyed today in which ANP has decided to withdraw itself from the opposition alliance—PDM further stating to resign from all the posts of PDM.

ANP leader Amir Haider Hoti said that when Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was formed, his party’s position was clear on the resignations. “We were of the view that the Long March would be meaningless without resignations,”

Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said that PDM has sent his Party a show-cause notice but “we are neither in PML-N nor in PPP so the purpose to send show-cause notice is not clear.

“PDM is not a party’s movement however we are happy with show-cause notice,” but would PML-N get the same notice as it had contested the Senate election with PTI in Punjab seats, he added.

“JUI also allied with PTI, will it also get notice? he questioned.

"A leader's position is not one to be used to attack in such a manner," he said, referring to Fazlur Rehman.

"A leader gives everyone a chance and tries to resolve all differences between parties of an alliance," Hoti added.

It may be recalled that the PDM had issued show-cause notices to the PPP and ANP on the issue of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.