PDM not a private limited company: PPP

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) yesterday said that Pakistan Democratic Movement was not a private limited company which will be led by an owner.

PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bokhari said the PPP wanted the PDM to stay united but believes in understanding and negotiation. “Domination and coercion are not acceptable under any circumstances. PDM is a political partnership process and no institution or company,” he said.

Bokhari said all the big and small parties involved in PDM had equal status and importance. “Under the PDM declaration, it is necessary to abide by collective decision and not individual,” he said. The PPP, he said, was the majority opposition party in the Senate and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) had the right to lead the opposition in the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly where they are the second largest party. “The JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazal) has the right to lead the opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly,” he added.

Bokhari added that PPP is the creator of the constitution and the guardian of democracy. “PPP laid the foundation for restoration of democracy movements. PDM was also formed under the auspices of PPP. Our party is not subordinate to anyone. The head of PDM is Maulana Fazlur Rehman and he has also suspended his activities (due to illness),” he pointed out.

“Domination and coercion are not acceptable under any circumstances”

Bokhari said a meeting of PDM headed by senior vice president of PDM Raja Pervez Ashraf can be convened to discuss the issues.

He said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the son of Benazir Bhutto and has been leading the fight for real democracy. Bokhari reminded that the nation was aware of those who fought and sacrificed for the sake of democracy and parliament and those who were brought up in the lap of a dictator.

Meanwhile, PPP leader Senator Palwasha Khan said PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had taken u-turn on the ‘show cause notice’.

“Last night a show cause notice was released and by this morning it has turned into an explanation and tomorrow PML-N will express its shame on it,” she said.

She reminded that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif apologized to former president Asif Ali Zardari “for fabricating corruption cases” against him. “the show cause is ridiculous .”