Thaw in PDM, PPP ties: Bilawal, Fazlur Rehman agree on joint strategy in Parliament

• Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Fazlur Rehman agree on joint strategy in Parliament against government.
• PPP chairman, JUI-F chief note long-standing ties between both parties.
• PDM chief says will not take any decision alone; PPP chairman says return to PDM not discussed in meeting.

ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday met Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman with the meeting culminating in both leaders deciding to adopt a joint strategy against the PTI government in Parliament.

The PPP leadership visited the JUI-F emir at his residence in Islamabad to inquire about his health and discuss matters related to the current political situation.

During the meeting — being viewed by political experts as an ice-breaker between the two sides — both leaders expressed concern over the rising inflation in the country.

The PPP chairman said to the JUI-F chief, “you are a senior politician; we have had ties for three generations now”.

Bilawal said that a joint strategy in Parliament on electronic voting machines (EVMs) and accountability laws could lead to success for the Opposition.

He further said that the recent defeats of the government in Parliament were major achievements of the Opposition.

'Entire Opposition united against govt'

Later, during a joint press conference, Bilawal said that the government, nowadays, is "facing defeat everyday".

"The government was unsuccessful in introducing its own bill in the National Assembly and the Opposition were able to introduce their bill," he said.

The Opposition defeated the government 117-104 on Tuesday after voting took place on a motion moved by PML-N MNA Javed Hasnain on a bill proposing that election candidates be prohibited from changing their symbols for a period of seven years. Subsequently, on a motion moved by PTI lawmaker Asma Qadeer seeking the introduction of a bill proposing the enhancement of punishment to those passing obnoxious remarks against women, the Opposition defeated the government once more.

"Another victory for the joint Opposition is the overnight cancellation of the joint session of Parliament," he said.

"The prime minister was forced to run away from a joint session of Parliament," Bilawal remarked.

The PPP chairman said that the Opposition had thwarted the government's efforts to bulldoze legislation on the National Accountability Bureau ordinance and electronic voting machines and will be successful in the future too.

"We must all welcome this victory of the joint Opposition in Parliament," he said.

Bilawal said that the Opposition had dealt the government a defeat through the use of democratic conventions. "The entire Opposition was united and strong in Parliament," he said, adding that this is what the people expect of it as well.

The PPP chairman noted long-held ties have existed between the PPP and JUI-F, saying that his party works with Fazlur Rehman's son, Asad Mahmoos, in Parliament.

"We have ties with Fazlur Rehman and these shall always remain," he said, adding that ups and downs are part and parcel of politics.

Fazlur Rehman, in turn, also said that he has maintained ties with Bilawal's family for three generations.

Echoing Bilawal's sentiments he said that the Opposition is playing a united and joint role in Parliament.

"The Opposition's unity is reflective of the need of the time and what the people want," he said.

"This fake government has come through rigging. It does not have the right to introduce reforms," the JUI-F chief said, adding that the Opposition "will not under any circumstance accept any recommendations regarding reforms".

"If they forcibly legislate using a fake majority, it will be interpreted as a dictatorial act," he said.

He, too, viewed the calling off of the joint parliament session as the government being forced to "run away".

"Let us see now what moves they make, where they make their buys from," he remarked, adding that if a session is convened once more, the government will be "pushed back".

He said that although he is the PDM chief, he will not take any decisions alone.

To a question over whether the prime minister will be ousted through parliamentary action or whether general elections will take place, Fazlur Rehman said: "Our foremost demand since day once has been fresh general elections."

"Our stance since 2018 has been that we do not accept this fake majority," he said, adding that the people must be given back the right to vote in their chosen representatives.

"We do not accept this government which has been formed through a stolen mandate," he said.

To another question regarding whether a no-trust bid was being considered against the Senate chairman, Fazlur Rehman turned down the possibility of such a move in the present.

"We did not discuss such a thing today. When the opportunity presents itself, we will discuss this," he said.

Bilawal, meanwhile, said that no talks took place regarding the PPP's return to the PDM.

PPP's rift with PDM

PPP had resigned from all the PDM offices in April 2021 saying that no party "should try and impose their will and dictation on any other political party".

The PDM had asked the PPP to explain why it sought support from the treasury benches for Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's election to the post of Leader of the Opposition in Senate.

Since then multiple attempts have been made to bring the PPP back into the PDM fold but remained unsuccessful as the party refused to budge from its stance of rejecting the show-cause notice it had been issued.

The recent camaraderie between the PML-N and the PPP leadership taking a joint stance against the ruling party has created an amiable atmosphere between the two parties.

According to sources, senior PPP leader Khursheed Shah, who had been released on bail, played an important role in bringing the PDM and his party closer.

Shah held meetings with PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, PDM Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the PPP leadership advised them to "shun differences to get rid of tyrant rulers”.

Sources said that the top leadership of the PPP and the Opposition alliance have endorsed Khursheed Shah's views.

It remains to be seen whether the PPP will rejoin the PDM or not but the Bilawal-Fazl meeting is being given importance in the backdrop of the government’s defeats in the National Assembly.