ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have agreed to hold general elections simultaneously across the country. However, the deadlock over the election date remains unresolved, with further negotiations planned to finalize the timing.
Key Details
- The third round of talks between the government and PTI took place on Tuesday evening after two previous rounds held last week, following orders from the Supreme Court.
- The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who led the government’s delegation, confirmed that while both sides had agreed on simultaneous elections, they could not reach a consensus on the date. He mentioned that both parties showed flexibility in their positions and hoped for successful future negotiations.“Hopefully, if they proceed with sincerity, the next phase will be passed successfully,” Dar remarked.
Main Points from the Talks
- The PTI delegation, led by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, along with Fawad Chaudhary and Senator Ali Zafar, participated in the talks. The government’s team included Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Naveed Qamar, and Tariq Bashir Cheema, among others.
- Shah Mehmood Qureshi highlighted that although there was no breakthrough in terms of finalizing the election date, both parties had agreed to respect the Constitution and find a middle ground to avoid violating it.
PTI’s Proposal
- PTI’s proposal suggests that the elections should be held between Eid ul Adha and the month of Muharram, which would place the elections sometime between July and August. The second or third weeks of August were also suggested as possible dates.
- PTI intends to send this proposal to the Supreme Court, continuing its push for a one-time exemption through an amendment to the Constitution to allow the simultaneous elections after the 90-day deadline for polls following the dissolution of the assemblies.
Future Plans
- Both sides have agreed to hold further consultations with their top leadership to finalize a date. The government and PTI will continue discussions to avoid further delays and ensure that the elections are held in line with constitutional guidelines.
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