The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is a political alliance in Pakistan that was founded in September 2020. It is composed of 11 opposition parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), and the Awami National Party (ANP). The alliance was formed with the stated goal of opposing the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The origins of the PDM can be traced back to the 2018 general election in Pakistan, in which the PTI emerged as the largest party but fell short of a majority. The PPP and PML-N, the two main opposition parties, accused the PTI of rigging the election and refused to accept the results. This led to a period of political instability, with the opposition staging protests and boycotting parliamentary proceedings.
In the months leading up to the formation of the PDM, the opposition parties had been holding rallies and protests against the PTI government. In September 2020, they decided to unite under the banner of the PDM in order to increase their bargaining power and present a united front against the government. The alliance was formally launched at a rally in Gujranwala, with PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif addressing the crowd.
The main purpose of the PDM is to oppose the PTI government and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The opposition parties have accused the PTI of corruption and mismanagement, and have called for fresh elections to be held. They have also criticized the government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic policies, which they say have led to rising prices and high unemployment. The PDM has held several large-scale rallies and protests across the country, with the aim of putting pressure on the government to resign. The alliance has also threatened to launch a "long march" on the capital, Islamabad, if the government does not meet its demands. In addition to opposing the PTI government, the PDM has also sought to promote democratic values and the rule of law in Pakistan. The opposition parties have called for the independence of state institutions, such as the judiciary and the media, and have criticized the government for alleged violations of human rights. The formation of the PDM has been met with mixed reactions in Pakistan. Some have welcomed the alliance as a way to bring about political change, while others have accused the opposition parties of seeking to destabilize the country for their own political gain. The PTI government has also accused the PDM of trying to undermine the country's stability and has vowed to resist the opposition's efforts to force it out of office. The future of the PDM remains uncertain, as the opposition parties have yet to achieve their main goal of ousting the PTI government. However, the alliance has shown that it is a formidable force, with the ability to mobilize large numbers of people and put pressure on the government. Whether the PDM will ultimately succeed in its efforts to bring about change in Pakistan remains to be seen.
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