As the differences among major political parties in anti-government alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement, began to intensify, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said that they (PDM) didn’t need anyone while referring to Pakistan Peoples Party during a presser along with Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Lahore.

Responding to a question, Maryam said that PML-N and JUI-F had both successfully held rallies and protests with considerable numbers in the past and therefore they didn’t need anyone else.

“It would be better if the entire opposition is united on the demands of the people and should do their representation together,” Maryam added.

Furthermore, the JUI-F chief said that nine members of the PDM had agreed to resign from the assemblies and wanted the PPP to respect their opinion.

However, Maulana said that the PPP was a “big party” and the PDM would continue their engagement with it. “PDM will wait for the decision of the PPP’s central executive committee and will be ready to consider the party’s arguments,” Maulana told media.

Senate opposition leader

It is being observed that a rift in the PDM is due to the issue of the Senate opposition leader as the two parties have started lobbying for the key position.

According to Maryam, earlier there was an agreement in the PDM that the member parties would vote for PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani for the Senate’s top post and JUI-F’s Abdul Ghafoor Haideri for the deputy chairman election, while the opposition leader would be from the PML-N.

Maryam said that the principled decision had already been taken and “there is no room for change in this after the victory or loss of anyone” while referring to Gilani’s loss in the Senate chairman election.

However, the PPP admitted that there had been an agreement but opined that after Gillani’s defeat “the situation has changed”.

PML-N has nominated Azam Nazeer Tarar for the opposition leader office while PPP wants Gillani to lead the position.