LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have vowed to make collective efforts for supremacy of the constitution, rule of law and restoration of ‘real’ democracy in the country.

PPP delegation led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz at Jati Umra on Thursday and discussed a wide range of issues including upcoming Senate elections and the PDM strategy. Delegation included former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, former Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira, General Secretary Chaudhry Manzoor and PPP Parliamentary Leader in Punjab Assembly Syed Hassan Murtaza. PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MNAs Rana Sanaullah, Kh Saad Rafique and Maryam Aurangzeb were also present. 

Both the sides evaluated joint strategy for the upcoming Senate elections, deliberated future agenda of protest drive and held a consultation for future working relationship.

Talking to the media after discussion over a lunch, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the government had suffered defeats in the recent by-elections from Pishin to Sialkot. 

“People have rejected the ruling party in every bye-election. I believe two decisions taken by the PDM — one to contest the bye-elections and the other to take part in the Senate polls have completely changed the political situation and has made the government uneasy,” he said. 

Every pro-democracy person will not vote for PTI, claims Maryam

He made it clear that the PDM was only contesting the Senate elections together. “When it comes to sending this selected government home, we will decide as to when we will do what,” he added. 

To a query, he said, “We are approaching every member of the parliament and trying to convince them to vote for our candidates”. He thanked PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif for extending support to PPP candidate Yousaf Raza Gilani. He demanded the release of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz and PPP leader Khursheed Shah. Maryam Nawaz criticized Prime Minister Imran Khan for ‘failure of the government on all fronts”. 

To a question, she said that establishment was not involved in politics was never a news. “In my opinion, if they are not involved in politics, it is better not only for them but also for our institutions and for the democracy in the country,” she said. She said that PDM’s Senate candidate from Islamabad Yousaf Raza Gilani was a respected man and true democrat. She said that the PML-N fully backed him for the Senate seat. She expressed the hope that every pro-democracy person would not vote for the PTI [in the Senate elections].  “We believe that PTI is guilty of crimes against the people and Imran Khan is guilty of crimes against the nation”, she said.  She claimed that the PTI’s popularity was plunging and there were visible cracks in the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.