The anti-government alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement, has formally decided to end ties with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) in the Upper House of Parliament (Senate of Pakistan).

The PDM will form a new bloc in the Senate which consists of 27 members from five parties excluding PPP and ANP. According to media reports, the PDM will also issue show-cause notices to the two parties (PPP and ANP) over violation of the PDM’s decision.

Earlier, the disgruntled PPP had managed to secure the Senate opposition leader slot for former prime minister and its senator Yousaf Raza Gillani after getting support from some members of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — a government’s ally — including Jamat-e-Islami, ANP and other independent members.

During a meeting attended by five parties (including the 27 senators), the PDM leadership has raised questions ‘why the two parties got votes of BAP for the office of opposition leader and why an alliance was made with a ruling coalition partner’. (Dawn reported)

“Five opposition parties have decided to form a new opposition alliance, as they have 27 senators in the upper house,” says Azam Nazir Tarar who is the parliamentary leader in the Senate from Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz.

The five parties, which will now form an independent opposition in the Senate, are PML-N, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), National Party (NP) and Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal).