PDM: Formation, Objectives And Long March

The last public meeting organized by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Lahore was termed unimpressive by the political experts. Now, the PDM has announced a long march to Islamabad and hunker down there until Prime Minister Imran Khan steps down.

The long march to Islamabad is the zenith of the opposition’s anti-government movement. Before it, the parties in PDM staged protests in their strongholds to nudge the government.

Lahore Rally

The PDM demonstration in Lahore was unimpressive for the host Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N). Each lawmaker from Lahore was tasked to bring up to 300 people with them.

However, they only managed to bring up to 50 people which certainly disappointed PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

The opposition leaders lampooned the PTI government and termed it as a ‘puppet and selected’ government.

PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and other prominent leaders of coalition parties restated their resolve to bring down Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PML-N Head Nawaz Sharif also addressed the rally in Lahore via video-link. He reiterated that the PTI government was imposed on people through the rigging.

Government’s reaction

The government officials also took opposition toughly and criticized the PDM for violating coronavirus precautionary guidelines despite a peak in the second wave.

Police special branch head-counted the participants in Lahore’s demonstration to be around 5,000 only.

PDM formation and programs

PDM is made up of 11 political parties including Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), Pakistan Muslim League (N), PPP, PML-N and others.

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the head of the alliance.

PDM kicked off its campaign at a rally in Gujranwala on October 16. It was hosted jointly by PPP and PML-N.

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The second one was held in Karachi on October 18 which was hosted by PPP.

The third and fourth public meetings of PDM were held in Quetta and Peshawar on October 25 and November 22 respectively.

The fifth meeting of PDM was organized in Multan while the closing rally of the first phase of the protest was held in Lahore on December 13.

Lahore demonstration and cases

PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz mobilized the workers before the Lahore program in violation of coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Famous DJ Butt and a restaurateur were booked by the police for accompanying Maryam Nawaz while cases against PML-N officials were registered for gathering people despite coronavirus restrictions.

More than a dozen cases have been registered in different police stations of Lahore for damaging public property while the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has decided to register cases on damages in Iqbal Park.

PDM latest take against the government

The leaders of all parties in the alliance met in Lahore on December 14 and deliberated over four hours to announce the ultimatum of January 31 to the government for stepping down and hold new elections.

All parties in PDM signed the ‘Lahore Declaration’ after the final public meeting of the first phase confirming participation in the long march.

PDM top brass announced to reveal the date of the long march towards Islamabad on February 1 if the government did not resign by January 31.

The opposition leaders have announced that they will not hold dialogues with the government as things have gone over the head.