PDM chief Fazlur Rehman says PDM's doors open for PPP

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman made a peace offering to the PPP, saying that the doors of the alliance are open for the party after he claimed that the Bilawal Bhutto-led party had indicated its willingness to come back to the alliance.

“PPP and ANP’s resignations from the PDM have not been accepted. PPP wants to return to the alliance, but it is being delayed due to deliberation on the condition put forward by us,” the PDM chief told journalists in Islamabad.

Rehman assured the estranged PPP and ANP that there were no roadblocks for their return to the PDM's fold. He added that if the PPP accepts their stance then the PDM parties will also accept Yousuf Raza Gillani as the leader of the opposition in the Senate.

The PDM president alleged that Asfandyar Wali-led had also expressed its disappointment over the PPP's decision to seek Balochistan Awami Party senators' votes to declare Gilani as the opposition leader.

“The ANP leadership had to announce its separation from the alliance due to some pressure,” claimed Fazl without taking any names.

“The doors to the alliance for the PPP are open; [it] just have to issue a clarification that we have demanded,” said Fazl. He assured everyone that PDM was intact and will meet after Eid, adding that PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif will lead his party's delegation.

The PDM chief stated that to free the country’s economy, there was a need to bring in political stability. He also dismissed talks about bringing in an in-house change in the Parliament.

Answering a question about the Justice Qazi Faez Isa case, Fazl said that President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan had "no moral standing to carry on with their posts."

Fazl initiates attempts to bridge gap between PPP, PDM: sources

A day earlier, it was reported that Rehman has started making attempts to bridge the gap between the PPP and the anti-government alliance.

On April 12, the PPP had announced that the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) had called upon its members to resign from all positions of the PDM.

Similarly, leaders of the ANP had withdrawn from the alliance after show-cause notices were issued to the party to explain their actions during the recently held Senate polls.

Sources said Fazl has claimed PPP was ready to reconsider Yousuf Raza Gillani's position as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate — one of the main reasons that led to a divide in the alliance.

PML-N leaders, who did not openly oppose, had agreed on the return of PPP to the PDM following the intervention of party president Shahbaz Sharif, sources said.

Shahbaz Sharif, according to sources, believes the return of PPP and ANP would strengthen the anti-government alliance.

Meanwhile, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Akhtar Mengal have agreed on PPP's return, while Owais Noorani and Prof Sajid Mir have expressed their reservations.

PDM postpones meeting

Earlier, the PDM had announced it had decided to postpone its April 29 leaders' meeting and would convene the next session after Eid.

PDM's chief Fazl has requested the central leaders of PML-N and PPP to "exercise restraint."

He said the PDM plans to "intensify its anti-government struggle after Ramadan," adding the alliance will return to the field with "better strength than before."

"If a few elements decide to [deviate], it would not make any difference to the alliance," Fazl said.

The PDM had another meeting on April 26, without the participation of PPP and ANP, during which Fazl urged the two estranged parties to reconsider their decisions to resign from all posts of the alliance.