PDM—A Divided Movement by Senator A. Rehman Malik

 


There is hardly any good news for the people of Pakistan. The people have the right to assume that Pakistani politics is basically played for power and there is nothing for the common man. The division of PDM was not good news for Pakistani politics. Difference of opinion exists everywhere and in politics, difference of opinion is not only the beauty of democracy but an integral part of any political movement and dialogue. The initiative to create PDM was good but unfortunately, soon it fell prey to certain major mistakes. Some of those mistakes have been expressed below as a lesson for a future political roadmap.

I would like to put a question to the public; what action was taken against Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan leader Owais Noorani when on October 25, 2020, while addressing a public meeting organised by PDM in Quetta Balochistan, he stated, “We want Balochistan as an independent state.” Did PDM take any action against him and his party or issue any explanation?

Similarly what action was taken when PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai spoke against Punjab while addressing a PDM rally in Lahore in December last year. Did PDM issue any show-cause notice to Mr Achakzai and take any action? These voices of provincialism and separation of Balochistan coming from the platform of PDM caused fear among the people and they have the right to ask what service PDM is doing for the integrity and unity of Pakistan if such highly controversial statements come from its rallies.

PPP had the right to express its opinion and genuinely advised PDM not to resign from the assemblies. What was the harm in the statement of President Asif Ali Zardari if he informed PDM about his party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) decision on resignation from assemblies rather than accepting on the spot. He democratically informed the PDM that PPP would go back to CEC to get a fresh mandate over the issue.

PDM should have served a show-cause notice to itself as the gentleman Maulana Ghafoor Haidari could not bag the seven votes of PDM while contesting elections for deputy chair of the Senate. PDM should have announced an investigation to know those seven senators from PDM who did not vote for Ghafoor Haidari for deputy chairman Senate. Who were those seven senators and which party backstabbed PDM? I think PDM had stood dissolved on the same day when many from PDM voted against PDM during the election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Senate.

I agree with the demand that PDM needs to investigate as to how seven votes of Yousuf Raza Gilani were managed to be declared invalid. Has PDM investigated who openly got these votes invalid by asking the members to stamp on Gilani’s name instead of the box? People have the right to have clarification as to how Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was defeated at the cost of a favour to someone. Did PDM issue any show cause to itself or to its President as to why it happened under his nose? Yousuf Raza Gilani has the right to know why he was sacrificed for some unknown cause. The leadership of PDM must know and the truth will prevail if PDM does not bring these miserable failures itself to the public.

Regarding some doubts on the selection of the opposition leader, I wish the opposition leader should have been elected through consensus. PPP leaders, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Senator Raza Rabbani, and Br Aitzaz Ahsan have publicly criticised their party for accepting the votes of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) members to get Yousuf Raza Gilani elected as the opposition leader in Senate, which displays acceptance of the freedom of speech and difference of opinion. No rebuttal was issued and no action was initiated against these senior leaders of the party for criticism as PPP upholds democratic norms within the party as well as believes in freedom of speech within the party and at the national level. I still pray that PDM brings PPP back to the fold by properly apologising after the withdrawal of the show-cause notice. Whatever is happening on the platform of PDM is highly undesirable and looks like the “Premature Democratic Movement” which ultimately benefited the government and next it looks like PDM will stand for “Pakistan Divided Movements’’. The public is crushed between the government and the opposition whereas PDM looks like a live show for the TV channels to create some spicy material for evening shows. Previously it was PDM versus the government but now it is a triangle. Actually, I get disappointed when such movements are initiated without proper homework. Let me tell you, a businessman has already initiated a strong movement to bring PTI close to two political parties of PDM and it will be a shocking surprise for many. Can the opposition/PDM give the countdown of what pressure it has built for Kashmir and against the government’s move of independence of SBP? What programme/agenda has PDM given for a common man and have they protested against price hikes? Let me conclude with an independent mind, that serving a show-cause notice to PPP means disservice to PDM and looks like deliberate action to bury PDM, but I hope PDM takes action against those members who made both PDM candidates lose in the Senate. Many parties in the PDM are looking forward to having some share in power and rewards from some special angels like the past. These special angles distribute blessings of power to many and it is expected that they will receive those blessings after Eid, for which some will travel out of the capitol and some will travel in. Let us see who the lucky ones are.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Most Recent

Condolence Reference For Late Senator A. Rehman Malik Held At NPC

  ISLAMABAD     –    A condolence reference in memory of late Senator A Rehman Malik, former interior minister and senior leader of the Paki...