By Our Web Desk
LAHORE– Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the opposition alliance will be present with Maryam Nawaz during her appearance before National Accountability Bureau(NAB) on March 26.
The two leaders while talking to newsmen after a meeting between them which was also attended by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz.
“The apparent reasons cited by NAB have exposed the bureau for the puppet institution it is. It has approached the court for cancellation of Maryam’s bail on the basis that she speaks against institutions. “So the institution has been formed not to combat corruption but to serve other institutions,” Fazlur Rehman said.
He said that when she appears before NAB on March 26, all of the PDM’s workers and leaders will be right there with her.He went on to say that the workers will number “not thousands, but hundreds of thousands”.
It will be decided later who among the leaders will be present, but nonetheless, we will be there and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her, the PDM chairman said.
Maryam has been summoned by the anti-corruption watchdog in pursuance of two cases the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and one pertaining to purchase of land in Raiwind.
Replying a query regarding differences that have reportedly emerged between PPP and the rest of the alliance over the matter of appointing Yousaf Raza Gillani as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Fazlur Rehman said that there is a rift.
“PDM is not only united, through mutual consultations we have matters under control. We all have to move ahead forward. The nine parties that have a particular ideology will request the PPP to respect their viewpoint,” he said.
The PDM chief said that the alliance will wait for the outcome of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee meeting set to take place in the first week of April and is also willing to review their recommendations so that the alliance can move forward effectively.
Maryam Nawaz while replying a query said that it was decided “in principle”, when PDM leaders met at Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s house, that support for Gillani for Senate chairman, for JUI-F’s Abdul Ghafoor Haideri for deputy chairman, and for a PML-N candidate for leader of the opposition will be extended. She said a win or loss was not discussed as a factor for any change in the decision.
“I am sure [anyone who opposes this can be made to understand that when a decision in principle is made, there is no need to revisit it,” Maryam said.
She said “We are striving to keep all parties united. But in any case Imran Khan’s future is not linked with the PDM. His future and that of his fake government hinges on his own performance.”
She said that whatever the inner workings of the PDM, Imran Khan will have to answer for the “incompetence, ineptitude that has swallowed the country whole” and not the opposition alliance.
Maryam said that the PDM will demand an answer to this “incompetence” from the government and will “fully represent and safeguard” the interests of the people. “We will not allow the government to escape from the backdoor,” she said.
The PML-N vice president said that the talks are underway between PPP and PML-N over the NA-249 election in which PML-N candidate Miftah Ismail is a contender. “We will let you know when a decision is reached,” she said.
Maryam was of the view that although a long march is very much possible with just JUI-F and PML-N leading the way, “who are very big parties in their own constituencies” and who have “held large events with success before”, it would be better for all parties to stand united and represent the people together and so the alliance will look to PPP to join them.
Fazlur Rehman said PPP is a big party and even a small party within the alliance, if it were to express reservations, “would be accorded respect and their viewpoint considered”.
Regarding differences with Hamza Shahbaz, She said the Punjab Assembly’s Leader of the Opposition participated in the lunch meeting hosted by Fazlur Rehman and had to go away to meet the doctor who is looking after the treatment of her daughter’s heart condition.
