Pakistan: Ruling coalition and PTI face deadlock over poll date despite agreement on simultaneous elections
Both sides show flexibility to end political uncertainty but no consensus on date
Islamabad: Pakistan’s ruling alliance and the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have reached a consensus to hold general elections across Pakistan on the same day under caretaker setups, according to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who led the government side. However, deadlock persists as the talks ended without any agreement on a poll date.
The representatives of the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party held three rounds of talks to resolve the political deadlock in the country. The negotiations took place after Pakistan’s top court directed both sides to hold dialogue and form a consensus on the date for elections. The Supreme Court verdict ordered elections in Punjab to be held on May 14, which had been postponed due to lack of funds, and unavailability of security among other issues.
Dar said both sides showed “flexibility” during the talks but they are yet to decide on a date for elections. Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said it was a “huge progress” that a consensus was formed that elections should take place all over the country on the same day under caretaker governments. He hoped both the parties “will continue in the same manner with sincerity.”
No practical consensus reached
However, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed regret that both sides failed to agree on dissolving assemblies and setting a date for polls, despite coming close to a consensus. PTI is insisting on the implementation of the Supreme Court’s verdict ordering elections to be held in Punjab province on May 14. Qureshi told reporters that the government’s priority is to hold simultaneous provincial and national elections under the caretaker government with all parties accepting the results.
During the talks, PTI’s team leader, Qureshi, said that his party asked the government to dissolve Sindh, Balochistan, and national assemblies by May 14 and hold elections after 60 days. He stated that “PTI is ready to go to the National Assembly” to give “constitutional cover” to the delayed elections and sought a written agreement with the government that could be presented before the Supreme Court to ensure its implementation.
PTI to move court again
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, who also participated in the talks with the government, said that his party will submit a detailed report of talks with the ruling alliance in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The PTI delegation was led by Qureshi, Chaudhry, and Senator Ali Zafar. Meanwhile, the government was led by Ishaq Dar (PML-N) and comprised Yousuf Raza Gilani (PPP), Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar (PML-N, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique (PML-N, Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar (PPP), Tariq Bashir Cheema (PML-Q), and Kishwar Zahra (MQM-P).
President Alvi expressed hope for a positive outcome in recent talks, urging politicians to address the trust deficit and emphasizing that only Constitution is supreme.