–Senator Sherry Rehman says Opp will hold several meetings to ensure they have a joint strategy in place to oust govt
–Opp says ready for snap polls, the only democratic solution to Imran ‘predicament’
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday decided there won’t be a “unilateral decision” on the anti-government march that was called by the Jamiat-Ulema-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) against the government.
The decision was taken at a meeting between Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, wherein the leadership of both parties agreed to chalk out a joint strategy along with Fazl, whom they urged against a solo flight.
Urging Fazl that unity was the need of the hour, the opposition leaders also summoned an All Parties’ Conference (APC) in the near future for further deliberation.
The PPP delegation comprised Farhatullah Babar, Saleem Mandviwalla, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Nayyar Bukhari, Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar and Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, whereas Raja Zafarul Haq, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Rana Tanveer, Amir Muqam and Marriyum Aurangzeb represented the PML-N at the meeting.
Addressing a press conference after the huddle, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, flanked by PML-N leaders Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyum Aurangzeb, said sending Imran government has become a necessity; however, the opposition wanted Fazl not to act individually”.
She was the opposition wanted Fazl to be on the same wavelength as them and to ensure this, a schedule of meetings had been developed which will take place between PPP, PML-N and JUI-F to ensure they have a joint strategy in place to oust the government.
In a reply to a question on snap polls, the opposition leaders said all parties were ready for fresh elections, which was the only “democratic solution”.
Expressing the readiness for the polls, Senator Rehman said: “We are not talking about any dates today, but you will see various meetings being held over the next 4-5 days.”
She took a jibe at Imran Khan, saying: “You know and I know. Which election did he win? He came down from the heavens.”
Speaking on the reporters, Ahsan Iqbal said: “The opposition parties will unite and stand together in their resolve to rid this country of this government and the situation we are trapped in; the only democratic solution is a fresh election.”
“Today we have agreed on the fact that all the opposition parties must develop a joint strategy against the government in consultation with JUI-F leadership. For this purpose, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari plans to meet Maulana sahib and tomorrow, a PML-N delegation will meet him,” he said, referring to the JUI-F chief.
“There is complete agreement between the PPP and PML-N that the fight against the government has to be fought from the opposition platform. And all parties are in agreement over the fact that the ouster of this government is a forgone conclusion,” the PML-N leader added.
The opposition has failed to come to the same page on the proposed ‘Azadi March’ announced by Fazl. PPP opposes the march over some reservations, like the use of religion card, but has assured moral support to the marchers.
On the other hand, the PML-N has urged Fazl to postpone the march till November, citing the party needs time to mobilise its ranks.