At last the PDM led government has decided to commence talks with the single largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) following the hearing of the Supreme Court on the date of elections.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice Supreme Court Justice Umar Atta Bandiyal asked both the government and PTI to hold talks in the best interest of the country and for the sake of the constitution. Later the Attorney General of Pakistan, Mansoor Usman called on the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and briefed him on the court proceedings.
After the meeting with the PM, the Attorney General contacted Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarrar and PTI’s leader Barrister Ali Zafar. Afterwards PTI’s Chairman and former Premier, Imran Khan announced a three-member team for the negotiations on holding elections with the government including Vice Chairman of the party Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhary and Barrister Ali Zafar.
However, the Head of the ruling alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement(PDM), Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman’s party JUI(F) boycotted the negotiation with PTI as it will not be a part of the dialogue process. Maulana announced to go to the public as it announced to hold public rallies and processions throughout the country.
The government has announced seven-member team without the representation of JUI(F) for dialogues with PTI, comprised of federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Azam Nazir Tarrar, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, whereas former PM Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Syed Navid Qamar are included in the team from Pakistan People’s Party whereas Kishwar Zehra and Muhammad Abu Bakar would represent MQM. Earlier the government had suggested a committee for dialogue comprising five members each from both sides.
The first round of dialogues was held at the Senate Secretariat in which the PTI and the government side talked about holding the elections. Both sides present their point of view in front of each other.
The PTI side emphasized on holding the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 14th May, on the date given by the Supreme Court but the delegation of the government insisted on holding elections on the same date in the entire country simultaneously, after the National Assembly would complete its constitutional tenure.
The Chairman Senate Sanjrani proposed a 10-member committee for talks, but PTI’s leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking to the media outside the apex court rejected the suggestion by saying this is the matter regarding political consensus and the only Senate cannot play its role in befitting manner.
In a fresh but surprising move the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also took the vote of confidence from the National Assembly as 180 MNAs expressed trust in him.
A sword of disqualification was hanging over the head of the Prime Minister Sharif by the Supreme Court on holding elections in two provinces including Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but after taking a vote of confidence, he tried to manage the affairs.
The PTI’s leader Fawad Chaudhary while commenting on the vote of confidence by the Prime Minister has said that PDM and PTI have lost the majority as the vote from 20 members of PTI could not be counted as PM’s vote. As a matter of fact, the PM has taken 160 votes, whereas 172 votes were required for gaining the confidence of the National Assembly.
