Pakistan Democratic Movement

Pakistan Democratic Movement
PresidentFazal-ur-Rehman (JUI-F)
Secretary-GeneralShahid Khaqan Abbasi (PMLN)[1]
SpokespersonHafiz Hamdullah (JUI-F)[2]
Vice PresidentMahmood Khan Achakzai (PkMAP)[3]
Vice PresidentAftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao (QWP)[4]
FoundersFazal-ur-Rehman (JUI-F)
Asif Ali Zardari (PPP)
Shehbaz Sharif (PMLN)
Founded20 September 2020; 4 years ago (2020-09-20)
DissolvedSeptember 2023[5]
IdeologyAnti-PTI
Political positionBig tent
Colors  Green
All Parties Conference on 20 September 2020 in which PDM was founded

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (Urdu: پاکستان ڈیموکریٹک موومنٹ; PDM) was a coalition of political parties in Pakistan.[6] It was founded in September 2020 as a opposition movement against Imran Khan, accusing his administration of poor governance, political victimization of opponents, and mismanaging the economy and foreign policy. Khan rebuked these allegations, during and after his tenure as Prime Minister [7]

The coalition was also joined by several dissident members of Khan's own party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[8]

On 10 April 2022, the coalition succeeded in ousting Khan through a no-confidence motion,[9][10][11] after which the PDM formed its own government, choosing the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif as the country's next Prime Minister.

The president of PDM was Fazal-ur-Rehman and its spokesperson was Hafiz Hamdullah, both from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUIF).[2] Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) was Secretary-General, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) was Vice President, and Aftab Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) was Senior Vice President of the alliance.[3][4][1] PDM's former Senior Vice President was Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), while the former spokesperson was Mian Iftikhar Hussain of the Awami National Party (ANP).[12][13]

  1. ^ a b Dawn (9 November 2020). "PDM to work on fresh 'charter of democracy'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 10 November 2020. PDM secretary general and PML-N stalwart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi later told Dawn that the new charter would not be like the 2006 Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed between his party and the PPP.
  2. ^ a b "حافظ حمد اللّٰہ پی ڈی ایم کے ترجمان مقرر". Daily Jang (in Urdu). 28 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Democracy must remain supreme, says Achakzai". Dawn. 29 October 2021. Mr Achakzai, who is also vice president of the PDM, said: "The country cannot be run without providing justice. The holy Quran commands to do justice and fairness."
  4. ^ a b "PDM rejects electoral reforms, AJK results". The Express Tribune. 11 August 2021. The PDM chief said Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Sherpao had been appointed the senior vice president of the alliance.
  5. ^ "As elections near, major players steer away from PDM". Dawn (newspaper). 18 September 2023.
  6. ^ Hashim, Asad. "Pakistani politician released as opposition to continue protests". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  7. ^ Deconstructed, Ryan Grim (5 June 2023). "Imran Khan: U.S. Was Manipulated by Pakistan Military Into Backing Overthrow". The Intercept. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  8. ^ "In open show of dissent, several PTI MNAs found staying in Sindh House". DAWN.COM. 17 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Timeline of events on how Pakistan PM Imran Khan lost his post in no-confidence vote". Firstpost. 10 April 2022.
  10. ^ "End Of The Hybrid Regime: Here's Why Imran Khan's Ouster Is Good News For Pakistan". The Friday Times. 9 April 2022.
  11. ^ "What led to Pakistan PM Imran Khan's downfall". BBC News. 9 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Govt must accept its failure, announce fresh elections: PDM". The Express Tribune. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020. The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) spokesperson Mian Iftikhar Hussain said this in a statement on Saturday.
  13. ^ "PDM issues new schedule of public gatherings across country". 24 News HD. 5 October 2020. Ahsan announced that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was elected as general secretary of PDM. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was elected as senior vice president and Iftikhar Hussain was elected as secretary information.