Tariq Butt, Correspondent
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) says the issue of resignations from federal and provincial assemblies will be decided by its central executive committee (CEC).
The announcement came a day after announcing that lawmakers belonging to the constituent parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will hand over their resignations to the heads of their parties by Dec 31.
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PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz had a meeting with PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the issue of resignations.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz addresses a rally. File photo
The PDM leaders refuted reports about differences within the alliance on en masse resignations from the assemblies. "The PPP, Rehman and Ms Nawaz, we are all on one page and one stage,” Bilawal said. "We are ready to use every weapon to send this government home.”
However, he said his party would further discuss the matter in a meeting of its CEC. He said they were yet to decide the timing of using the option of submitting en masse resignations and a strategy would be finalised in the "next phase” of the PDM’s anti-government movement.
Party leaders said that the PPP has urged the PDM to thoroughly analyse the possible scenarios that could emerge after their coming out of the assemblies before making any decision to submit resignations. Besides, they should also consult legal and constitutional experts regarding possible outcomes of their resignations from the assemblies ahead of the Senate elections.
The PPP also wants the PDM leadership to prepare a plan of action in case the government decides to hold by-elections on the vacant seats.
Rehman said there was no democracy in the country and the "establishment is still protecting the government”. "If the establishment will continue to protect the present illegitimate government then how can they call the present set-up a democratic system.”
He regretted that on one hand, the government was saying it would not stop the opposition from holding a public meeting in Lahore on Dec 13 and, on the other, it was not giving permission for it.