The deadline and the future strategy of PDM: Shafaqna Analysis

by Tauqeer Abbas
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The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an alliance of 11 opposition parties out to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government — has called a meeting on February 4 to mull over various suggestions proposed by leaders of constituent parties. During the course of the meeting, the members would also discuss misunderstandings among the leaders of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Meanwhile, the leaders would also discuss long march towards Islamabad and would fix the date of the protest, as the January 31 deadline set by the PDM for the resignation of the premier had expired.

There is no reason for PTI leaders to be overjoyed over the failure of the PDM to achieve its target. The PTI leadership’s incompetence in meeting the economic challenges is enough to create insurmountable problems for its government in days to come. The revenue collection remains lower than under the PML(N). The circular debt has surpassed the limit reached under the previous government. The prices of essential commodities have escalated 50pc-80pc in the retail market as compared to prices in 2017-18. Whether the Senate elections are held with or without secret ballot, careful estimates show the PTI would manage to get less than 30 seats in a House of 104. Thus, even for carrying out simple legislation the government will have to seek the support of both its allies and the opposition.

The opposition will have opportunities in coming months and years to expose the government’s failures and even initiate yet another wave of protests when the time is ripe. Meanwhile there is a need on the part of the opposition to work together with the government to pass the badly needed laws, electoral reforms being high on the list. For this the opposition has to return to Parliament from the streets.

However, PDM is so far suffering from inner conflicts and fails to achieve its objects .There are two factors in the context — one, lack of mass support required for something as big as an anti-government movement; and two, the PPP’s divergent position within the alliance. That the PDM has failed to mobilise the masses against the government has no two opinions — something that the opposition alliance might have also realised.

First it was the flop show in Lahore on December 13 that exposed the PDM’s lack of preparedness. Then came a lackluster protest outside the ECP on January 20, clearly showing where this anti-government coalition stands. Now Where will then the PDM go from here? Well, it should wait for the government to go fall further on the performance index or for Asif Zardari to pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Shafaqna Pakistan

pakistan.shafaqna.com

 

 

 

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