PESHAWAR: The opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement has decided to hold a protest rally against inflation here on Nov 20.

Leaders of the opposition parties will lead protesters from the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl’s Secretariat on Ring Road to GT Road near Pir Zakori overhead bridge for a rally.

The decision about rally was taken during a meeting at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Secretariat here on Saturday.

JUI-F provincial chief Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman chaired the meeting, where PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, Qaumi Watan Party provincial senior vice-president Tariq Ahmad Khan, JUI-F spokesman Maulana Abdul Jalil Jan, Jamiat Ahle Hadith provincial chief Dr Zakir Shah and other PDM leaders were in attendance.

The participants finalised strategy for the success of Peshawar rally.

Mr Muqam later told reporters that the days of the federal government were numbered.

He said all opposition parties would participate in the Nov 20 rally against record hike in the prices of essential commodities.

The PML-N leader said Imran Khan was occupying the office of the prime minister despite failure to face the united opposition in the joint parliamentary session. He said the prime minister was ‘morally bound’ to step down.

Mr Muqam claimed that the PTI chief minister and ministers were holding public meetings despite the announcement of election schedule in a bid to ‘fool’ the people yet again. He said the PTI won’t be able to get the people’s votes through rhetoric yet again.

The PML-N leader said the party’s supremo, Nawaz Sharif, would return to the country ‘very soon’ after securing the permission of his doctors.

He said the opposition was united against the government in parliament, while all political parties outside parliament had also agreed to work for the ouster of the government.

“The Nov 20 Peshawar rally will be historic,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, ANP leader and former chief minister’s adviser Imran Khan Afridi announced the joining of the PML-N along with his family members and supporters. He also announced he would stage a big rally in that regard in Bara area on Nov 28.

Earlier, a delegation was led by PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam met Mr Afridi and invited him to join the PML-N.

Muqam was accompanied by PML-N leaders Ikhtiar Wai and Shazia Aurangzeb. They formally invited Mr Afridi to join the PML-N, which he accepted.

Mr Muqam told reporters that the party would become stronger in the province, especially Khyber tribal district, after the entry of Imran Afridi.

“I’m sure Imran Afridi will play his due role for the popularity of the PML-N in the region,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2021