Chief of the Opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday announced that the anti-inflation long march will be held on March 23, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has time and again urged the opposition parties’ alliance to change the day of their protest as it is being coincided with Pakistan Day. However, PDM has refused to budge.

Talking to media after the meeting of the steering committee, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that there will be an inflation march on March 23 and we will turn to Islamabad.

“The PDM will enter Islamabad and the government knew such a big march was due on that day, so under which conspiracy did they make such recommendations?"

Fazl said that all members of the PDM have decided that an anti-inflation march against the government will be held as per schedule on March 23.

“People will turn to Islamabad from all corners of the country and this anti-inflation march will be the last nail in the coffin for this government.”

The JUI chief reiterated that the people of Pakistan have been overburdened because of inflation, and PDM rejects the government’s “mini-budget."

He went on to say that since the government is non-serious itself, it is "also treating the country's economy in a non-serious manner."

He added that during the session, all Opposition parties have been directed to continue with the preparations for the long march.

Fazl reiterated that the Opposition would "never allow the government to trade the freedom and sovereignty of the country."

“The PTI leaders have made a mockery of the country's economy,” he asserted, lamenting that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has been enslaved by international financial institutions.

Fazl further said that the no-confidence motion is a part of politics but it has not been considered yet. In the current situation, this government must end, the PDM chief added.

Referring to Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI 2021), in which Pakistan's rank has fallen 16 places to 140 from 124 out of 180 countries, the PDM chief said that the current government labelled all other politicians as thieves; however, "the international institution has shown them their own reflection in the mirror."

“Transparency International has exposed the true face of the incumbent government,” he said, adding that the PTI-led government is the most “incompetent, failed and corrupt” government in the history of Pakistan.

Fazl lashed out at the government and said that the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) called every politician a thief and paid no attention to its performance.

Fazl said the rulers are reluctant to consider the issues, which the masses are suffering from.  He added the incompetent government has created a fertilizer crisis which has never been seen before.

Fazl said that the Opposition will not accept the presidential style of government under any circumstance, saying that the Opposition has fought for the survival of the country and will continue to do so.

“Presidential system is another name for dictatorship,” the JUI chief said, adding that the end of parliamentary rule “seems to be a conspiracy”.

“We will never allow this nefarious conspiracy to be fulfilled as the country had previously suffered because of the presidential system. This system would not be accepted.”

He further added that the presidential style of government has a “dark history” in Pakistan.

Fazl said that the government is once again making plans for rigging in order to come back into power in the next general elections. Referring to the report released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) scrutiny committee, he said: “PTI had hidden details of 22 accounts, and Prime Minister Imran Khan should be disqualified for hiding these details.”

“PM Imran Khan has been convicted in this foreign funding case,” Fazl said, adding that the PTI was established based on “corruption and hence, the entire party is corrupt.”

Terming the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) “unconstitutional”, Fazl said that PDM has already rejected it, adding that EVM is another name of Results Transmission System (RTS). “We will not accept such elections,” Fazl maintained.

Before beginning the session, PDM Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had said the PTI-led government has "lost its moral standing," adding that the government allies are also hesitant to cooperate due to PTI's "anti-people policies."

The JUI chief said that the Opposition should hold serious talks with all government-allied parties and convince them of their stance against the government. “If all allied parties support the Opposition in the House, the motion of no confidence would not be required,” he said.