ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties have begun consultations on the future organisational structure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the possible names of the office-bearers, particularly the head of the newly formed alliance, which was constituted by them at the Sept 20 multiparty conference (MPC) to run an organised anti-government campaign.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Thursday met Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secretary general Nayyar Bokhari to discuss the oragnisational matters of the PDM and the possible dates and venues of the public meetings and the future strategy regarding the anti-government long march in January next year.

According to an official handout issued by the PPP Media Centre, Mr Bokhari and Mr Achakzai agreed that the PDM head would be nominated with complete consensus and after consultations among heads of the opposition parties.

Mr Bokhari later briefed PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on his meeting with the PkMAP chief.

In a statement, Mr Bokhari said the opposition parties were busy in finalising its plan to launch a decisive movement to get rid of the incapable rulers. He said the dates for public meetings to be held at the provincial level would be announced soon.

On Wednesday, the opposition’s Rehbar Committee had in a meeting decided to give a “formal structural shape” to the newly formed 11-party alliance by constituting its chapters at the national, provincial and district levels. Mr Bokhari had said the decision to nominate office-bearers of the PDM at all levels had been left to the top leadership of the opposition parties.

Mr Bokhari said the Rehbar Committee had met in the light of the 26-point declaration announced by the opposition parties at the PPP-hosted MPC in Islamabad. The PPP leader said the opposition was determined to hold a decisive long march on Islamabad in January 2021 as announced in the MPC, adding that they were determined to send this government packing.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2020