PML-N to launch movement against government's 'flawed' economic policies in March: Mushahid

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will launch its protest movement against the government's flawed economic policies with or without the support of other opposition political parties including JUI-F and PPP.

This was stated by PML-N vice president Mushahidullah Khan while talking to Business Recorder. "The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) may see more cracks within its ranks, as not only the coalition partners, but its own members are upset at its appalling performance," he added.

He said that the party will launch its anti-government movement next month irrespective of whether Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N President, currently in London, returns or not adding that Shahbaz Sharif was scheduled to return on February 15, but decided to postpone his return till after Nawaz Sharif's heart procedure scheduled for the end of next month.

Mushaidullah further stated that the party does not need to garner support from any other opposition political party as all would automatically unite under one-point agenda: dismissal of Prime Minister Imran Khan's administration.

"The people who imposed this man [Imran Khan] on the country, have started realizing that it was the worst ever choice they made, and now they themselves want to get rid of him," he said in a not so oblique reference to the establishment.

"The ides of March are staring the ruling PTI in the face, and I'm sure the end of March will prove to be the end of the PTI regime given its one and half years of pathetic performance," he maintained.

About the possibility of any patch-up between Nawaz Sharif and former Interior minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, he said "at this point in time, there is little possibility of a rapprochement; the elder Sharif is unlikely to forgive Nisar."

Earlier this month, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced a second round of anti-government protest march with a convention in Karachi on February 23, a national convention in Islamabad on March 1 and Azadi March in Lahore on March 19.

He stated that he was not in touch with Nawaz Sharif or Asif Zardari since they voted in favour of an extension in the services chiefs' tenure adding that "the PPP and the PML-N are not a part of our movement so far."

However JUI-F Deputy Secretary General Maulana Amjad Khan while speaking to Business Recorder said his party is not desirous of splitting the opposition if PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is planning to unite them under one umbrella.

"All opposition parties were united in APC previously. And PML-N had the opportunity to keep the unity intact," he said while regretting the PML-N decision to abandon the JUI-F anti-government drive.

"Our plan will move ahead come what may," he reiterated. The PPP is also going to take a "solo flight", as it is launching a movement against the government in March. Talking to Business Recorder, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, the spokesperson for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said that the party chairman had already announced to launch the anti-government drive next month all by itself.

"We are going to launch a movement against the PTI government as its flawed economic policies, shrinking democratic space and skyrocketing inflation are some of the major issues which we cannot ignore anymore," he added. To a question about launching a joint anti-government drive, he said that the party has not contacted any other opposition party and has decided to proceed with its own plan.