In order to facilitate simultaneous elections across the nation, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded that assemblies be dissolved before May 14. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has once again rejected this request.
At 9 p.m. on Tuesday (today), both the ruling alliance and the opposition party are scheduled to hold crucial negotiations.
Imran Khan, the chairman of the PTI, has linked the demand for simultaneous elections across the nation by the PDM-led administration with the dissolution of all legislatures, including the National Assembly, before May 14.
Sanaullah rejected the PTI leader’s demand and argued that all assemblies should be permitted to serve out their full terms under the constitution. He added that conditions should not be placed on negotiations.
According to the interior minister, despite having reservations, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif permitted the party to hold negotiations with the PTI.
The PDM’s negotiating team suggested that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) be finalised and that the incumbent setup be permitted to present the upcoming federal budget rather than the caretaker setup before the elections during the discussions with PTI, the security czar revealed.
If these two requests are granted, he questioned, “What is the need to dissolve the assemblies just a few weeks before their term?
Asad Umar, the leader of the PTI, issued a warning, stating that “if the last chance to dissolve the assemblies is wasted,” both the nation and the coalition government’s allies will suffer.
In order to clear the way for elections in the nation, Umar also urged the coalition government to agree to the PTI’s demands regarding the dissolution of assemblies before May 14 and to submit its written agreement to the Supreme Court.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, vice chairman of the PTI, stated earlier today that even though he felt “hopeless,” he “will sit at the negotiation table with good intentions” with the PDM team.
The third round of negotiations is set to begin at 9 p.m. today, and the government has already called Khan’s demand that the assembly be dissolved by May 14 “impractical,” while the PTI has not shown any wiggle room on the subject.
The talks aim to resolve an impasse over the timing of general elections across the country, which has fuelled political tensions. The Supreme Court has also urged the political forces to negotiate and find a solution to the prevailing political turmoil.
