Turning down speculations
\nRailway Minister Saad Rafique says by-selections proved ECP and establishment are neutral
\n LAHORE
\nMinister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Tuesday announced that the federal government will complete its tenure, dismissing all speculation regarding the possible dissolution of the government following PTI\u2019s victory in the recently-concluded Punjab by-election.
\nThe decision came after the PML-N faced defeat in the Punjab by-elections on 20 constituencies on July 17 against the PTI.
\nThe PTI won 15 seats, while the PML-N managed to clinch victory in only four, and an independent candidate grabbed one.
\nThe announcement was made after a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore with the allies.
\nTalking about the Punjab by-elections, the railway minister said that these elections cannot measure the popularity or unpopularity of PML-N as the party and the coalition government have won five out of 20 seats.
\nHe said that the PML-N leadership has made sacrifices for democracy, adding that the party knows how to save its politics but it decided not to do so.
\n\u00abThe Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) requests to respect the decisions made by the Parliament and that it has its reservations on judicial interpretation of Article 63(A),\u00bb said Rafique, adding that \u00ablegislation is the Parliament\u203as prerogative and it should not be interfered with.\u00bb
\nThe Supreme Court is hearing a case related to the recent changes in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws after PTI Chairman Imran Khan challenged the amendments. Berating Khan, the PML-N leader said that he was a \u201cconspirator and not mentally fit\u201d. \u201cWe are applauding our win over five seats, while the person who won 15 seats is crying,\u201d he added.
\nThe minister further said that the by-elections proved that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the establishment are neutral.
\nThe railway minister demanded that the verdict regarding the PTI\u2019s foreign funding case, pending for years, should be announced soon.
\nOn the other hand, JUI-F leader Akram Khan Durrani said that Khan attacks the ECP, and the judiciary, and was constantly humiliating the institutions.
\n\u201cIf he [Imran Khan] does not stop, the law will take its course,\u201d said Durrani.<\/p>\n
According to sources, during the meeting, the coalition government decided that early elections are not a good option.<\/p>\n
The parties also decided to make efforts to save the chief ministership in Punjab, said the sources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Turning down speculations Railway Minister Saad Rafique says by-selections proved ECP and establishment are neutral LAHORE Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Tuesday announced that the federal government will complete its tenure, dismissing all speculation regarding the possible dissolution of the government following PTI\u2019s victory in the recently-concluded Punjab by-election. The decision came after the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":272242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-272222","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n