ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has missed the opportunity to quit with dignity as the deadline set by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for the PM’s resignation expired on Sunday.

“The selected PM has failed to resign by the deadline set by the PDM for this illegitimate regime and missed the opportunity to step aside in a respectable manner & allow for a transition to democracy with free, fair & transparent elections,” the PPP leader tweeted on Sunday.

He also said that a long march plan and no-confidence motion would hopefully be discussed in the PDM’s meeting which, according to opposition leaders, is scheduled to be held on Feb 4 in Islamabad under the leadership of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The PPP leader said that the government’s desperation was evident as the ruling party was trying to change rules to “rig Senate elections because it can see its defeat”.

He also said that establishment must leave political battles to politicians now or risk being drawn to controversies. “Only a government chosen by the people can deliver to the people,” he said.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari further said that people faced historic poverty, unemployment and inflation because this government had been imposed on them.

He said the joint opposition must now force the removal of puppets, adding that the PPP believed in relying on democratic tactics and sustained joint efforts inside and outside the parliament would ultimately succeed.

Earlier, the PDM, after completion of the first phase of its anti government movement in December, had announced Jan 31st as the deadline for Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down or face a long march to Islamabad to topple his government.

The PDM deadline was rejected by ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government and termed the opposition’s demands “undemocratic, immoral and unconstitutional”.

Reacting to the deadline, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is also senior vice chairman of the PTI, told a press conference that PDM’s ultimatum to the government “stands rejected”.

“I want to convey the PTI’s stance in categorical terms and without wasting time to the PDM leadership that we reject your ultimatum. You say the prime minister should resign by Jan 31st. We categorically say the prime minister of Pakistan will not step down. You say assemblies should be dissolved. The prime minister has said and I am repeating [his words] that assemblies will not be dissolved,” he said.

Accusing the PDM leaders of preferring their personal interests over national interests, Mr Qureshi had also challenged the opposition to submit its lawmakers’ resignations to speakers of respective assemblies on Dec 31st, instead of handing them over to their own leadership.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2021