Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – the 11-party opposition alliance – has moved its scheduled rally of October 11 in Quetta to October 18.
The JUI-F took the decision as its public rally in Quetta for October was already announced, and after consultation between the JUI-F and PkMAP of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, both had decided to merge both the public rallies on October 18.
While confirming the postponement of the October 11 rally of PDM to October 18, Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of the JUI-F informed that the JUI-F would host the public rally of PDM in Quetta on October 18. For this, the JUI-F cancelled its public rally scheduled for October 25. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Dr Abdul Malik, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and other leaders will address the first public rally of the PDM, he added.
The meeting of the Steering Committee was scheduled on Monday to finalise the alliance structure, discuss the proposal to change the PDM leader on a rotational basis and for determining the duration of heading the PDM. The alliance has already chosen Maulana Fazlur Rehman to lead the PDM to launch the anti-government movement.
The PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, who has also been appointed as secretary Steering Committee, will chair the committee meeting today.
Secretary General of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, said that the people of Balochistan had already rejected these parties as they had done nothing for the development of the country, particularly the province, when in power.
Speaking at a joint press conference along with Mobeen Khliji, an MPA of the PTI, Bushra Rind of the BAP, Liaquat Shahwani, spokesman for the Balochistan government, and Bilal Kakar, coordinator to the chief minister, here on Sunday, Mr Kakar said that holding the public meeting in Quetta was an attempt to worsen the law and order situation in the city. He warned that if a law and order situation was created, the law would swing into action.
This mobilization in Quetta comes against the backdrop of interesting developments in Pashtun-Baloch networks of solidarities under the banner of Pashtoon Tahafuz Movement, popularly known as the PTM. PTM Member of National Assembly Mohsin Dawar has been an active and visible part of the PDM. Dawar visited the city last month to meet with Baloch activists, but was taken into protective custody and soon after left the province without any political activity.
