ISLAMABAD: After Supreme Court rulings, the PDM-led government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) negotiated the poll schedule on Thursday.
Both parties disclosed their top leadership’s positions in the first two-hour round of discussions. It happened in Parliament House’s Committee Room Number 3. Today is second meeting.
The government delegation included Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Yousaf Raza Gilani. Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar.
While, The opposition delegation includes PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, and top legal expert Barrister Ali Zafar.
Moreover, The team advised the government about PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s election policies and methods.
After the meeting, Gilani told press the ruling parties would consult and decide. “Whatever is decided, it will be based on input from all parties.”
Qureshi told the media that political parties solve difficulties through talks.
“We have entered the talks with a spirit of arriving at a decision […] but we will not allow the talks to be used as a delaying tactic for polls,” added PTI vice chairman.
PTI offered three demands to the government delegation after the meeting:
The national and provincial assemblies dissolved in May this year and elections should be held nationwide in July. If the government amends the Constitution, PTI’s resignations must be retracted.
Fazl avoids discussions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced conditional discussions with the PTI in his National Assembly speech today after winning a vote of confidence.
“The allied parties have decided to hold negotiations with PTI in Senate and we will send our representatives in this regard today, but talks will be held only on holding polls across the country simultaneously.”
Moreover, The conference is critical as political parties remain at odds with each other and the Supreme Court, causing tremendous political and economic instability.
The political parties failed to choose an election date before April 26, as ordered by the court. The SC stated at today’s hearing that it cannot force negotiations.
The court cannot force dialogue. “The court only wants Constitutional implementation to resolve the dispute,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial stated.
Moreover, The alliance’s leader, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, stated his party will not negotiate with PTI.
While, Fazl told journalists the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) consults, not political parties.
“The Supreme Court is forcefully asking us to hold talks; all the political parties are trying to convince one person [Khan] and we cannot do that,” the JUI-F head remarked.
After Khan’s dismissal in April last year, political uncertainty has caused considerable economic misery, with the rupee plunging to historic lows against the dollar and foreign exchange reserves falling to less than a month’s import cover.
