ISLAMABAD: After three rounds of crucial talks, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led coalition government and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) have reached a consensus on holding general elections on the same day across the country in August this year under a caretaker setup. However, both sides failed to agree on a specific date for the elections.
The talks were held at the Parliament House and were attended by members of the ruling coalition and the opposition PTI. The government’s negotiating team was led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, while the PTI delegation included Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, and Senator Ali Zafar.
During the second round of talks, the PTI delegation demanded a date for the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) before the budget and rejected the government’s plan for general elections in October. However, a consensus was reached during the third round of talks on holding elections under a caretaker setup.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the development to the media, stating that both sides had agreed on holding general elections on the same day across the country under a caretaker setup. “A consensus was reached on holding elections on the same day across the country under a caretaker setup,” Dar told media. However, they could not decide the date for holding elections.
Qureshi confirms consensus with government on elections in August
Separately, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi also confirmed this development, saying that the party had shown flexibility for the sake of national consensus. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that they had “shown flexibility for the sake of national consensus.”
Sources close to PTI revealed that the party seeks significant progress in talks with the federal government before the next hearing in the Supreme Court (SC).
The SC had declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to postpone the Punjab Assembly elections till October 8 “unconstitutional” and fixed May 14 as the new date. The government had assured the Supreme Court of holding talks with the opposition over elections in two provinces.
In addition to Dar, PML-N’s Azam Nazeer Tarar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq along with PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar and Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani represented the government in the Talks. Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Kishwar Zehra and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Tariq Bashir Cheema were also included in the government’s negotiating committee.
After the conclusion of the third round of talks, PTI’s Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi told media that during the talks, both sides tried to reach a consensus, and they agreed on three points. First, we agreed that political parties should endeavour to reach at such a consensus that benefits the country. Secondly, it we agreed that talks would not be used as delaying tactics, and thirdly, both sides must work for the implementation of what has been agreed.
It is important to note that the National Assembly had earlier passed a resolution rejecting the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Punjab polls and declared that it would not provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for polls.
The agreement between the government and PTI on holding nationwide general elections under a caretaker setup in August is a significant development, although a specific date for the elections has yet to be agreed upon.
