The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a political alliance of 11 opposition parties, is in a “practical deadlock”, according to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a political alliance of 11 opposition parties, is in a “practical deadlock”, according to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Qureshi made the remarks on Monday while speaking to reporters outside an Islamabad court where he had come to attend a case hearing.
The two major coalition parties in the PDM – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) – are at odds over multiple issues, mainly on the allocation of funds for the flood victims.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in an election rally in Swat, asked the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to provide more funds, otherwise the party would not approve the budget.
Reacting to this, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that everything was decided in the National Economic Council and the cabinet where the PPP members were present.
A meeting is also scheduled for today with the prime minister in the chair to address the PPP’s concerns.
Speaking to reporters in the federal capital, Qureshi said that he had earlier said that the PDM alliance’s disintegration had started.
“Bilawal Bhutto expressed concerns in Swat yesterday. What Bilawal is saying about Sindh is true.”
He also asked why there was no debate in the cabinet meeting.
The PTI vice chairman also took notice of PML-N’s Talal Chaudhry, who had taken a jibe at PPP over the party’s alleged involvement in rigging in Azad Jammu Kashmir.
“Today, the ministers are raising objections on the AJK election,” Qureshi said and asked the PML-N why the party voted for PPP in Karachi’s mayoral election and not recorded its protest.
“Practically, the PDM’s alliance has ended and only a formal announcement is due,” he said.
The PTI leader also criticized the Foreign Office for “keeping mum” on the Greece boat tragedy.
Qureshi’s statement comes amid growing tensions between the PDM and the PTI-led government. The PDM has been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, while the PTI has been accusing the PDM of trying to destabilize the government.
It remains to be seen whether the PDM will be able to overcome its differences and stay united. However, Qureshi’s statement suggests that the alliance is weakened.