QUETTA: Central lea­ders of the Pakistan Demo­cratic Movement (PDM) on Wednesday rejected the legislation about election reforms and termed it a black law imposed by the “selected government” to prolong its rule in the country.

They were speaking at a public meeting held at the Railway Hockey ground at the end of a large procession organised by the opposition alliance against massive price hike in the country.

The rally was led by PDM president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, vice president Mehmood Khan Achakzai, National Party president Dr Malik Baloch and others.

The procession started from Ayub Stadium and, after marching through different roads, reached the Railway Hockey ground. Activists and workers of the PDM-allied parties, carrying party flags and banners inscribed with their demands, chanted slogans against the government.

Fazl says all institutions must remain within their constitutional limits

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Fazl said: “All institutions must stay within their constitutional limits and they should not interfere in the working of other institutions.”

He said that questions were also being asked now over working of the judiciary. “We have to run this country and its institutions. A bill is being brought to bring the SBP directly under the IMF,” the Maulana said, adding that except for the SBP governor, no one has come to Pakistan for employment from outside.

The JUI-F chief said that he did not care about electoral reforms this “fraudulent government” was talking about.

He said that instead of building five million houses, the government was demolishing a lot of houses.

“We will not let the nation be disappointed as the country should be run according to the Constitution,” the Maulana said, adding that the PDM would continue its struggle against the government.

Speaking on the occasion, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that the people who talked about the rule of law, Constitution and principles were termed RAW’s agents in Pakistan.

“We are pushing Pakistan like a buggy. This country is sinking because of our mistakes,” Mr Achakzai said, adding that it was a tragedy that a truly people’s government had not been formed in the country to date.

“We fought for this country because we consider Pakistan as our motherland, out home, but it is a pity that you could be jailed in this country if you talk about running the country in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law,” he said.

Mr Achakzai said that a round table conference would have to be convened to ensure the supremacy and sanctity of the Constitution.

“We are out on the streets to save this country,” Mr Achakzai said, adding that “our country is being trapped in a dangerous game”.

President of the National Party Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that the country would remain backward till the supremacy of the Constitution and acceptance of parliament by all institutions of the country.

He said the PDM wanted the supremacy of the Constitution and parliament to be accepted by all institutions.

Referring to the skyrocketing prices of food items and other goods, Dr Baloch said this for the first time in the country’s history that people had been forced to sell their children due to high prices of food items.

“Border trade from Chaman to Gwadar has been running on the basis of token which is an injustice with the people of Balochistan,” he said.

Referring to use of electronic voting machines in the upcoming elections, the National Party chief said the PDM would never accept this voting system.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2021