Our Correspondent
Gujranwal
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) held its first public anti-government rally in Gujranwala’s Jinnah Stadium, with an approximate footfall of 50,000-60,000.
PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman were present at the jalsa, while people intermittently chanted slogans “prime minister Nawaz Sharif” and “go, Niazi, go!”
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif also joined in from London and addressed the anti-government jalsa.
Led by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief, the PDM comprises more than 10 opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP).
Addressing the rally, Maulana Fazl said the movement which he started last year through “Azadi March” has evolved into a PDM movement against anti-democratic forces.
Accusing Prime Minister Imran of coming into power through back door, Fazl asks “Are his [pm Imran] selectors ashamed of [selecting] him or still proud of him?”
“Now the ocean of people will come out in Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Multan and Peshawar,” he said, adding that the PTI-led government will be toppled before December this year.
He accused PM Imran of pursuing the agenda of international powers to bring geographical changes in the country.
The JUI-F chief alleged that PM Imran is not the representative of the people of Pakistan “rather he is an agent of US and Isreal.”
PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing the rally, said Pakistan’s economy is facing the worst crisis in its history which he said led to the unprecedented inflation and poverty in the country.
“People are even unable to afford two meals a day and situation is getting worse by day,” he said while blaming Prime Minister Imran for wreaking havoc in the country.
Citing an example of prevailing crisis, Bilawal said, “This is the change brought by Imran and his selectors”.
While recalling that how his government dealt with multiple challenges in 2008, Bilawal lashed out at PM Imran, saying “he has only Tiger Force to resolve all issues.”
He claimed that the PTI-led government under the guise of anti-corruption drive is only victimising their political opponents and added that PM Imran and his sister, Aleema were not put behind when corruption allegations were levelled against them.
“Who made the decision of Punjab chief minister? Was he selected by any magician or khalai makhlooq (alien)”. Bilawal said he knew for sure that CM Usman Buzdar was not the choice of the people of the province.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said people from Lahore to Gujranwala are demanding PM Imran to resign.
Referring to PM Imran’s recent visit to shelter home in Islamabad, Maryam says “tell him [PM Imran] that now people will not provide him refuge no matter what”.
She urged PM Imran to
resign or “else people will throw you out”.
She said only people of the country should have the authority to elect or topple any government.
The PML-N stalwart said PM Imran boasted that state institutions of the country are on the same page. “He [PM Imran] must keep this in mind that it won’t take too long in turning the page.”
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif while addressing the public gathering via video link from London urged his supporters to stand up against those who have made their living conditions miserable and created mess in the country.
He lashed out at the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government, saying prices of all basic commodities including medicines have sky-rocketed which have made the lives of people miserable and they are unable to even afford basic staples.
Nawaz alleged without naming any one that he was disqualified and removed from the power through a conspiracy.
While addressing the charged crowd, Nawaz asks: “I am asking all of you who would you hold responsible for all this mess Imran Niazi or his selectors?” He claimed that if he was not removed from the premiership the country and the economy would have been in a much better condition today.
Declaring traitor someone is not a new phenomenon in the country, said Nawaz while referring to the sedition case registered against him by a private individual for his speeches targeting state institutions.
Giving an example of late politicians, he said those who stood for the supremacy of law and constitution had always been labelled traitors.
Another opposition leader from Balochistan, Mahmood Khan Achakzai said violators of Constitution are the “real traitors of the country”.
The PkMAP chief said that opposition’s prime objective is restoring the supremacy of Constitution in the country and added that he will rebel against those who disobey the law.
Former prime minister and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf said all opposition parties have joined hands to fight the “epidemic of inflation”, which has made it difficult for the masses to make both ends meet.
“This fraudster [PM Imran] has to go now and we will topple his government,” he said, adding PDM will continue its struggle until an elected government take the reins of the country.
Former prime minister and PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the presence of a “mammoth crowd” in the stadium is a success of democracy.
He claimed that those who brought PM Imran into power are also missing the tenure of ousted PML-N premier Nawaz Sharif today.
“This hybrid system has failed and any system which is based on lies and fraud can never succeed.”
Addressing the rally, PML-N stalwart Ahsan Iqbal urged the people of the country to become part of the anti-government movement to end “unprecedented inflation and bad governance”.
He said PML-N during its last tenure in the government served the people of the country by resolving many issues including loadshedding, inflation and water shortage.
PML-N leader Khawaja Asif, while addressing the rally, said all opposition parties of the country have formed the alliance against Prime Minister Imran khan to oust him from the power.
“No one is happy with this government not even his [Imran Khan] own supporters and ‘his selectors’,” he said, adding that PDM will restore the democracy in the country and send the PTI-led government packing.
PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said Prime Minister Imran has committed a fraud with the country by not fulfilling his pre-elections promises of providing 10 million jobs and reviving economy.
“Today from the platform of PDM we pledge that we will honour the sanctity of votes and only elected people will rule this country,” he said while addressing the rally.
Earlier Maryam, in a tweet, said that it took her around six hours to get out of Lahore due to the “sea of people”.
The PML-N leader after arriving at a wel-come camp set-up at Shadra addressed her party workers from atop of her vehicle ear-lier and emphatically asked them if they were ready to get rid of the “selected govern-ment”. Over eight welcome camps have been or-ganised by PML-N across the GT Road to welcome Maryam, causing massive traffic disruption for the daily commuters.
