Last Update: May 03, 2023, 09:08 AM IST
File photo of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said that though there was agreement on a single day election, both the sides failed to fix the date
The third and crucial round of talks between Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ended on Tuesday night without a major breakthrough on the election date.
Although the two sides reached a consensus on a single day election across the country under a caretaker government, the meeting failed to set a date for the election and dissolution of the legislatures.
The third round of talks began at 9 pm in the Committee Room of Parliament House. While the PTI demands elections in July or August, the government side suggested that the elections be held in October.
The government team included former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Geelani, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar, National Food Security and Research Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Sanaullah Baloch. from BNP (Mengal) and Kishwar Zahra from MQM.
Imran Khan’s party delegation was led by Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Senator Ali Zafar and Fawad Chaudhry.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said both sides agreed that elections under a caretaker government would be held on the same day but they could not fix a date.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi also said that though there was agreement on a single-day election, both sides failed to fix the date.
Qureshi further said that the PTI would approach the Supreme Court and submit a written report of the talks to implement the court’s decision to hold elections in Punjab on May 14.
Earlier, Imran Khan said that the government should dissolve all the assemblies by May 14 so that the way could be cleared for holding elections on the same date across the country. However, the government is not ready to dissolve the assembly.
The first round of talks took place on 27 April which lasted for two hours and the rivals decided to meet again after consulting their party chiefs. This was followed by a second round on 28 April where each side presented two proposals, which were to be presented to the respective leadership.
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