Doors still open to ppp, says Fazl

Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday said that if Pakistan People’s Party wants to rejoin PDM "and if it thinks that wrong decisions have been made that have damaged democracy, we have not blocked the path for them to do so". The head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-islam-fazl made the remarks during a media talk in the city. "They separated from the PDM and bracketed themselves with the PTI," he said, in a reference to the PPP having sealed Yousuf Raza Gillani's appointment as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate via votes from the Balochistan Awami Party, a government ally. He asked who it really was that benefited from a rift in the alliance. Speaking more about the opposition alliance, Fazl said that "the nation was united via the platform of PDM against the illegitimate and failed government" when it first formed. He said that it was too early to say that the PDM is an electoral alliance. "electoral alliances are formed by each party based on its own interests," he said. Fazl likened “running away” from assembly resignations to giving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf government an opportunity to extend its term. The JUI-F chief had long been calling for lawmakers of the opposition alliance to resign from the assemblies, a position which was opposed by the PPP. The PPP and the Awami National Party have since parted ways with the anti-government movement over disagreements in Senate elections. “I think if we do not resign collectively, the government will extend its term,” the JUI-F chief said. “Running away from the option of resignations is tantamount to giving time to the present government.” He reiterated the claim that massive rallies will be held in Swat on July 4 and in Karachi on July 29.