ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is set to hold its first power show in Gujranwala today as the alliance of opposition political parties finalised the arrangements on Thursday, and claimed that it is going to be a 'historic' rally, despite 'obstacles' allegedly created by the government.

A meeting of the PDM leadership was chaired here by its president and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman, and attended by former premiers Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Raja Pervez Ashraf of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the PDM's secretary general and vice president respectively, and Mian Iftikhar Hussian of Awami National Party (ANP) who is also secretary information of the PDM.

The meeting reviewed the arrangements of the PDM's first anti-government public rally being held in Gujranwala today.

Talking to the media after meeting, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the PDM strongly condemned the 'obstacles' being created allegedly by the government in holding of the rally.

Sharing details of the meeting, he said it was decided that leadership of the political parties would lead the workers from designated areas and would gather in front of the residence of Khurram Dastagir in Gujranwala at around 8pm, and would then proceed towards the venue of the rally.

He said the PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz would lead the party workers from Lahore and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari from Lalamusa in processions to reach the venue of the rally in Gujranwala.

Similarly, he added that other leaders would lead their respective party workers from different cities to the protest rally.

He said the PDM was going to hold a peaceful rally, adding that the government in 'frustration' had already started creating obstacles.

"We believe that this government is selected and came to power through massive rigging in 2018 general elections...their frustration is indicative of the fact that the government has already failed and the opposition is going to succeed," the PDM leader maintained.

"We believe that it is going to be a "historic" public rally, despite all the obstacles being created by the government, and a massive crowd would respond to the opposition's call...our demands are constitutional as we want free, fair and transparent elections in the country," he added.

Referring to the protest demonstrations of the government employees in Islamabad, he maintained that every segment of the society, including doctors, paramedics, engineers, clerks and others were already on the streets and showing distrust over the government.

"If all are expressing mistrust in the government, then you decide who voted it in power. That's why we are saying from the day one that this is a "selected" government," he claimed, adding that the current price hike and inflation was enough for sending it back to home.

To a question, he said that there was no change in schedule of the PDM's countrywide rallies, adding that the Gujranwala rally would be followed by the PDM's public meeting in Karachi on Oct 18, on Oct 25 in Quetta, Peshawar on Nov 22, Multan on Nov 30, and Lahore on Dec 13th.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020