LAHORE: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has declared that it will not sit with the PTI government on any legislation including that of Senate polls (open ballot) amendment at any stage as it does not consider it a legitimate government.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice-president Maryam Nawaz at her Jati Umra Raiwind residence here on Thursday to discuss the Senate elections, especially making a strategy to galvanise support for the PDM candidate -- former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who is contesting against the ruling PTI’s Hafeez Sheikh.

The PDM believes if the opposition manages to win this seat, it will change the course of politics.

“We have decided not to sit with this fake government on any legislation,” Maryam Nawaz replied to a question about bringing an amendment to the law related to the open ballot in the Senate under the Charter of Democracy (CoD). “We will sit with a legitimate democratic government to bring about such amendments,” she said and reiterated that it was the job of parliament.

Bilawal calls on Maryam to muster support for Gilani

She said had she been ready to leave the country, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would not have lodged another fake case against her. The NAB, however, said it did not issue any notice to Ms Nawaz.

Ms Nawaz said the election of Mr Gilani was a divide between the democratic forces and those who had been imposed on the people. “The PTI government is losing support as there is a revolt in the party,” she said, adding that it was good if the establishment was not involved in the Senate polls.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the PDM was in favour of sending the “puppet” government home with the help of the people and striving for reviving the real democracy in the country.

“Only legitimate democratic governments have the right to complete their terms. This is a selected government and its (PTI’s) angry lawmakers are forced to stick to it. When the strings are not attached with them then this selected government cannot survive,” he said.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari was of the view that PDM’s decision to take part in the by-polls and Senate elections had completely changed the political course of the country. “The masses have rejected the PTI in the by-polls across the country. Now in the Senate polls on March 3, it will be known to everyone who is with whom. We will seek a vote from every lawmaker for Gilani,” he said and added that the contest between Gilani and Sheikh was a test for the parliamentarians.

“The parliamentarians will be asked whether they will give a vote to the IMF candidate,” he said.

At the meeting both leaders pledged to give their best to secure victory for Mr Gilani who is contesting for the Senate’s Islamabad seat.

“The leadership of both PDM parties has agreed to give their best to secure victory for Mr Gilani. There has been pressure on the PTI in the Senate polls as Imran Khan is suspecting the loyalty of his party’s lawmakers,” Chaudhry Manzoor told Dawn after the meeting. He said the PDM leadership had decided to contact the PTI lawmakers to seek their vote for Mr Gilani.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari and Ms Nawaz also held a one-on-one meeting for over 30 minutes.

The PPP delegation comprised Mr Bhutto-Zardari, Mr Gilani, Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Manzoor and Hasan Murtaza. PML-N’s Pervaiz Rashid, Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sana were also present.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021