Lahore, Dec 21(ANI): A Lahore rally held under the banner of the Difaa-i-Pakistan Council (Pakistan Defence Council) and led by Jamaat-ud -Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed has set alarm bells ringing.
An umbrella group of 44 right-wing entities and personalities, the Difaa-i-Pakistan (PDC) has been rekindled across Pakistan and is chalking out its future strategy after the deadly November 26 NATO airstrike in Mohmad Agecny.
Analysts said the creation of the PDC represents an attempt to create a right-wing group, which would likely lead to mushrooming of an MMA-style political front, ahead of Pakistan's next general election.
"We're seeing a replay of 10 years ago. After 9/11, we saw the creation of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council. From there, the politicians in the group created the MMA while the hardcore jihadis went their own way," the Dawn quoted aveteran journalist Nusrat Javeed as saying.
"The main focus of the PDC is the defence of Pakistan. All of this stuff that's going on with the US, their meddling and interference, we want that to end. We have no interest in doing politics," Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Ashrafi said.
"It's about showing to the outside world that the army is under a great deal of pressure at home, that the religious parties are active and agitating and so the space for Pakistan to do what the US wants has been reduced," a senior journalist, Suhail Waraich said.
An analyst Amir Mir said the PDC is invariably linked to Pakistan's security establishment.
Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies Director Amir Rana said the PDC may be aimed at putting pressure on the country's mainstream parties.
Some political analysts wonder if regime change is imminent taking into account the PDC's agenda to push ahead with its plans. (ANI)
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