Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the joint opposition alliance, has announced a new phase of protest in a bid to dislodge the PTI-led government, blaming it for high inflation and rising unemployment in the country.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced the decision in a joint news conference, flanked by PML-N Senior Vice-President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Pashtun leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai in Islamabad on Sunday.
Fazl, who also heads the PDM, said that after consulting the chiefs of constituent parties of the opposition alliance it had been decided that there is a need to take “effective measures” to dislodge the incumbent government.
“The cries of the common man are reaching the sky due to rising inflation and skyrocketing food prices. People are compelled to commit suicide..,” he added.
Fazl said after Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations, the PDM will stage protests in various districts of the country for two weeks.
He also urged the masses to join the PDM protest rallies to get rid of "unprecedented inflation, poverty and unemployment" and added that the opposition parties are ready to fight the government at all fronts.
Meanwhile, an official statement said PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif discussed the matter of anti-government campaign with party supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
The PML-N supremo, who is in London, has approved the decision to launch the protest movement against the rising inflation in the country, the statement shared on the Twitter handle said.
The development comes a day after, JUI-F chief Fazl had urged PDM parties to take to the streets instead of holding rallies.
PDM Monday meeting
Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Fazl has summoned the PDM leaders meeting in Islamabad tomorrow (Monday) at 3pm to discuss the prevailing situation in the country including rising inflation, electoral reforms particularly the PTI government’s move to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general elections.
The PDM leaders will devise a strategy for the upcoming anti-government rallies and also mull an option to march on Islamabad in an attempt to pile up pressure on the incumbent government.
Besides the anti-government protests, they will also discuss the matter of recently introduced NAB ordinance by the PTI-led government.