PM says parliament to take decision on elections | Allies decide to pursue talks through parliamentary committee
\n ISLAMABAD
\nPolitical activities in the country have reached their peak ahead of the Supreme Court of Pakistan\u2019s April 27 deadline on updating it on the negotiations among political parties for finalizing a mutually acceptable date for holding elections in Punjab.
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of political leaders of the ruling alliance and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting condemned the twin explosions at the CTD police station in ??Kabal area of Swat. The participants also prayed for the security personnel martyred in terrorism incidents.
\nThe ruling coalition parties have decided to set aside personal ego and keep open the doors of dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the larger interest of the country.The leaders of the allied parties in the coalition government have decided to take forward the dialogue process with PTI through a parliamentary committee.
\nParticipants of the meeting resolved that the Parliament is an independent institution and it will recognize anybody\u2019s order for reconciliation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting, which was also attended by former president and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
\nAmong those who participated in the meeting were former president Asif Ali Zardari \u2013 who left shortly after the huddle began, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Aftab Sherpao, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Khalid Magsi, Agha Hassan Baloch.
\nChaudhry Salik Hussain, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Sajid Mir, Hafiz Abdul Karim, federal minister Talha Mehmood also attended the meeting.
\nMinister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Ayaz Sadiq, Ishaq Dar and other leaders were also present.
\nLater, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also reached the PM House where he was warmly received by Shehbaz Sharif. Sources say the prime minister took the participants of the meeting into confidence on the current political situation of the country.
\nThe law minister and attorney general briefed the meeting on legal and constitutional matters. The participants of the meeting were also briefed on the initial contacts established for negotiations with the PTI. Maulana Fazlur Rehman reiterated his stand regarding not negotiating with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
\nThe meeting was of the view that the courts should not hold Panchayats, rather their duty is to give judgements as per law and Constitution. Participants of the meeting resolved that the Parliament is an independent institution and it will recognize anybody\u2019s order for reconciliation.
\nThe participants also expressed their serious concern over the issue of audio leaks. The allies also termed Imran Khan\u2019s statement regarding talks childish. The participants of the meeting also expressed deep concern over the recent audio leaks.
\nAddressing the leaders of coalition parties, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said it is overwhelming opinion of all coalition parties in the government that doors of dialogue should not be closed.
\nThe prime minister said negotiations with PTI can be held through Speaker National Assembly or the Parliamentary Committee to reach consensus over holding elections simultaneously.
\nThe Prime Minister said parliament is supreme to take decisions on all matters. He said the Supreme Court should give verdicts according to the law and the constitution instead of giving right of arbitration. He said the Supreme Court should respect the decisions and resolutions passed by the parliament.
\nThe prime minister said in the recent past, the meetings were held to discuss the challenges and the remedial measures, and a joint session of the Parliament also took legal and constitutional steps in that regard.
\nIt was the government\u2019s political and moral obligation to accept the Parliament\u2019s decision, he added. As far as the talks for evolving consensus on a single election date were concerned, he said there was an \u201coverwhelming\u201d opinion among the coalition parties that the doors to dialogue should remain open.
\nAnd there was also an opinion that a parliamentary committee might play a role in that regard as the government desired to evolve a consensus on the election date and did not want to impede the process just to satisfy its ego, he added.
\nPM Shehbaz said despite the Parliament\u2019s decision not to accept the three-member bench, the Supreme Court wanted to move forward with the same bench. However, the coalition parties were unanimous that they would accept the 4-3 verdict of the apex court bench and not 2-3.
\n\u201cThe situation is very challenging right now. The Supreme Court wants to take the matter forward with the three-member bench. The Supreme Court should respect the opinion of the Parliament,\u201d he emphasised.
\n\u201cOur foreign relations have been severely damaged. Some elements outside Pakistan played a heinous role in this regard,\u201d he castigated.
\nThe Supreme Court, he said, should not be given the right to arbitrate as it was there to only give verdicts as per law and the Constitution. He said the coalition parties were unanimous that the elections would be held in October or November after the incumbent government completed its term on August 13.
\n\u201cThe term of the Parliament is ending on August 13. After that, elections will be held within 90 days. The job of the Supreme Court is not that of an arbitrator or panchayat,\u201d he stated.
\nThe prime minister said instead of suggesting the solutions, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership tried to exploit the country\u2019s challenging situation and also asked its provincial finance ministers to turn down the International Monetary Fund\u2019s conditions to impede the agreement.
\n\u201cImran Khan has taken many U-turns. Imran Khan took a U-turn after levelling accusations against the United States,\u201d he deplored.
\n\u201cThe Parliament has given its decision on three to four issues. The participants of the meeting are of the opinion that we should not close the door of dialogue. Everyone needs to agree to elections on the same day,\u201d he averred.
\nMoreover the party also tried to create a chaos and division within the society, he added. Even the armed forces and their leadership were not spared as some PTI agents from abroad were playing a negative role in that regard.
\nMeanwhile, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the ruling coalition is looking for constitutional ways to resolve the current judicial crisis, but using political options in this regard is not out of question.
\nHe has added that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) has called an emergency meeting of its executive committee in which a strategy will be formed to launch a campaign to educate the public about the implications of judicial activism.
\n\u201cHowever, in addition to submitting a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council against the chief justice in the meeting of the ruling coalition, we will also propose to mobilise the people,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PM says parliament to take decision on elections | Allies decide to pursue talks through parliamentary committee ISLAMABAD Political activities in the country have reached their peak ahead of the Supreme Court of Pakistan\u2019s April 27 deadline on updating it on the negotiations among political parties for finalizing a mutually acceptable date for holding elections […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-327625","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n