Firebrand cleric and chief of his own faction of Pakistan Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been unanimously elected as the head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a newly formed opposition alliance.
The consensus candidate emerged following a virtual session of the PDM attended amongst others by deposed prime minister and leading opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, who currently resides in London; Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari; Balochistan National Party chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other senior politicians.
The meeting discussed the country’s prevailing political situation including the decisions taken during the All Parties Conference (APC) last month to topple the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government.Sources said the PML-N had suggested the name of Rehman for the PDM chairmanship which was approved by all parties unanimously. The name of PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal has been agreed upon for the post of PDM’s secretary-general. Members from other political parties will be given the positions of vice-president.
At the APC held last month amid much fanfare, the opposition alliance demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and announced a countrywide protest campaign.
The alliance also demanded that the powerful military establishment not only refrain from “interfering in politics” but also confine to its role as defined in the Constitution.
The PDM also issued a 26-point resolution and a seven-point action plan, including the demand for free, fair, transparent elections without any role of the armed forces and agencies.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman
