Imran Khan and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif both appointed representatives to represent their views at the talks (Image: Reuters)
The talks will try to convince the government not to delay the elections till October and urge PTI not to demand immediate elections in Punjab
The ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) may hold indirect talks moderated by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq. Consensus offensive’ last week, dawn informed of.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan held separate meetings on Saturday with JI Amir, who later said he received a “positive response” from both sides to hold talks on the election issue.
dawn Said that both sides will now hold their talks through JI. The PML-N appointed Ayaz Sadiq and Saad Rafiq to lead the talks, while the PTI assigned Parvez Khattak, Mahmudur Rashid and Ejaz Chowdhary to represent the party.
PTI reiterated that it wanted a date for the elections.
PTI Senator Ejaz Chowdhary said that PTI has started consultations to take all opposition parties into confidence regarding elections across Pakistan. He said PTI held meetings with JI, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).
“We have met all political parties (outside the ruling coalition) and urged them to join hands and put up a resistance against the PDM,” Chowdhary is quoted as saying. dawn,
Chowdhary also reiterated that the PTI wanted to hold talks in Parliament and also reclaim the position of Leader of the Opposition. The senator said, “PTI wants to unanimously pass a one-time constitutional amendment to hold early elections in the country.” dawn,
PTI leader Mian Mahmudur Rasheed said, “It is high time that political parties showed wisdom in finding a middle ground to save the country and the people from the worst political and economic impasse of the year.”
The JI also wants to convene a multi-party conference with a single-point agenda of fixing the date for holding general elections across the country on a single day after Eid-ul-Fitr.
The meeting will try to persuade the ruling party to hold general elections before October and urge major opposition parties to drop their demand for holding elections for the Punjab provincial polls on May 14.
The venue and date of the proposed multi-party conference are yet to be finalised. JI Information Secretary Qaiser Sharif said, “JI Amir Siraj has urged PM Shehbaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan to show some flexibility and agree on the election date a few months earlier and later.”
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