Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz has decided not to attend the All Parties Conference (APC) called by the opposition, sources told ARY News on Monday. When asked whether Maryam Nawaz attend APC, sources said that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, along with a party delegation, will attend the APC.
It was also learned that the PML-N has informed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the hosts of the APC, about the development. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has changed the venue of APC of the Opposition from Zardari House to a local hotel in Islamabad, scheduled to be held on September 20.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is likely to send the invitation letter to all the opposition parties within the next two days for the APC. The APC, in its meeting, would decide on the future plan of action as the opposition leaders have already made up their minds to start a movement to send the government packing.
Maryam Nawaz decides not to attend APC#ARYNews https://t.co/zQ4ahAGFyj
— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) September 14, 2020
JI will not attend APC
The politico-religious party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), has announced it will not become part of any political alliance. A central leader of the party, Liaqat Baloch, said in a statement that Majlis-i-Shura of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had made a decision to continue all political activities in the country under its own flag.
Read More: Maulana Fazlur Rehman meets Shehbaz Sharif: What is its significance?
While referring to the alliance of opposition parties, Liaqat Baloch said that JI leadership has given a clear message to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) of not being part of any coalition after getting an invitation from JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman to join the APC.
Previous attempt to topple PTI government
It is not for the first time that the opposition parties are attempting to get rid of the government. Back in 2018, after losing the election, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, President of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), threatened to disrupt the political process in the country if the results of the General Elections 2018 were not declared “null and void”.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has established contact with other opposition parties for their participate in an all parties conference (APC) being hosted by it on September 20, sources said on Saturday https://t.co/lcdVIV0xYT
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) September 12, 2020
The MMA president chaired a meeting along with Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. The two leaders rejected the results of the General Election 2018 and demanded ‘free and fair’ re-election across the country. “The All Parties Conference has completely rejected the July 25, 2018 elections with consensus,” announced Rehman while addressing the media.
However, he was not fully supported by other opposition political parties. For example, the PPP said that it does not reject the results completely, rather it has questions about the electoral process. Later on, the PPP Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party rejects election results but, at the same time, the PPP was going to play a role of an exemplary opposition in the national assembly. Since the PPP managed to get a simple majority in Sindh, it was interested to form a government in the province. Hence, PPP could not afford to boycott the National Assembly.
Then again in 2019, the JUI-F’s chief announced to topple the government if the premier and his cabinet did not step down. He also said that there was going to be a freedom march in the months to come. He said: “This is our last long march and next will be our Freedom March in Islamabad if the PTI government does not resign. After holding 14 successful million marches across the country, we have arrived in Quetta and this sea of people shows what the people of Pakistan want.”
After consultation with the opposition parties, to get rid of PTI, the Maulana postponed his proposed Azadi March from August to October. Initially, it was 27th Oct 2019, which Pakistan celebrates every year as Kashmir Solidarity Day. After criticism from all walks of life, Maulana changed the date and announced to lead a march in Islamabad on 31st October.
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