FM rejects PDM’s demands terming ‘undemocratic’ & unconstitutional’

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has categorically rejected the demands of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties, terming them undemocratic and unconstitutional.
Addressing a news conference in the federal capital on Tuesday, Qureshi said that the country cannot be run on the whims of somebody.
He emphatically stated that Prime Minister Imran Khan will not step down and that the assemblies will not be dissolved. He said the present government enjoys the mandate of the people and secured millions of votes in the 2018 general elections.
The foreign minister said that allegations of rigging after every election in the country have become a habit, the incumbent government wants to bring reforms with the help of the opposition but they are up to another thing. The demand for fresh elections by the PDM is unconstitutional, he maintained.
The foreign minister who is also vice chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regretted that the opposition parties are giving priority to their personal interests over the national interests. He, however, said, “We are ready for talks on electoral reforms and the issues of inflation, provincial autonomy and the National Finance Commission (NFC).”
Referring to the stance of opposition parties on dialogue, the foreign minister reminded that doors of negotiations in politics are never shut. He said the posture of the opposition parties may damage democracy.
Qureshi said that submission of resignations from the assemblies with the party leadership is a ‘drama’, the resignations should have been submitted with the concerned speaker’s office, if the PDM is serious on the issue, he added.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the alliance of opposition parties has failed to mobilise public support. He said the people showed their indifference to the Lahore gathering which was a meaningless activity as it carried no new announcement.
Qureshi said that there is no consensus amongst the PDM over the issue of resignations from the assemblies and the long march. He said the policy of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is ambiguous as the decisions of the party are being taken not by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari but by former President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is also divided on the issue of resignations. He said there is a clear division between the groups of Shahbaz Sharif and that of Maryam Nawaz. – TLTP