Long march likely to take place after month of Ramazan: PDM.

ISLAMABAD: JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that the long march planned by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is likely to take place after the holy month of Ramazan.

"Conspiracies are being hatched against the PDM and efforts are being made to break apart the alliance," Fazl said. "Allah has made us sensible. If we are unable to understand what is beneficial or harmful for us, then we should not do politics," he said.

The JUI-F chief said he is expecting a 'positive response' from the PPP when its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting takes place on April 4 to decide on the issue of resignations. Fazl said he had suggested during the last PDM meeting that during the first phase, opposition lawmakers should resign from the National Assembly. "I recommended resigning from the provincial assemblies in the second phase [of the movement]," he said. "The recommendation was for [opposition lawmakers] to resign from the Sindh Assembly in the very end," he added.

The JUI-F chief stressed there was no other option other than a protest movement against the government. "If we wanted to fight in the parliament, why did we create the PDM?" he asked. "We have to choose one of two options: either mobilise the masses or remain in parliament," he added. The PDM's long march scheduled for March 26 was postponed amid a difference of opinion on the issue of resignations from assemblies alongside the protest.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People's Party said it will not leave the PDM since it was the PPP that initiated the movement. "Who laid down the basis for the PDM?" Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, former senator and leader of the PPP, said. "Who gave it a platform? Who initiated the PDM? The chairman of the PPP [Bilawal Bhutto Zardari] did. So why will we leave the movement?" he asked.

"Whatever the CEC decides about resignations will be final," said Bukhari. "Even in the...