This week crucial for Pakistani politics

PML-N will decide whether to accept IMF conditions or announce elections

ISLAMABAD:

 

This week is said to be crucial for Pakistani politics as the ruling PML-N will decide whether to accept the IMF condition of ending the subsidies for the release of $1 billion tranche or announce general elections.

Senior anchor Syed Talat Hussain in his tweet revealed, "(PML-N Quaid) Nawaz Sharif has decided not to pay the political cost of Imran’s ruinous years in power.

Shehbaz Sharif, who has been a good-for-nothing, and do-nothing PM at best, now has a very little realistic option other than to dissolve the assembly and call in fresh polls. Punjab too."

It is also learnt that powerful circles are also urging the coalition government to hold general elections in the month of October. On the other hand, the Pakistan Peoples Party is insisting the PML-N leadership not to announce early elections.

The PML-N leadership met in Landon last week to discuss the prevailing political and economic situation. Now, the PM will meet coalition partners in Pakistan on Tuesday to take them onboard the decisions made during the London meet.

It is learnt that the PML-N leadership wants that all stakeholders should own the tough decisions in the economic field. If all stakeholders agree, elections will not be announced.

Likewise, the Supreme Court's larger bench is concluding its proceedings regarding presidential reference seeking interpretation and scope of Article 63A of the Constitution. The bench may issue a short order this week.

Similarly, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce its decision on the Punjab Assembly speaker’s references regarding disqualification of around two-dozen MPAs on account of defection under Article 63A of the Constitution.

Likewise, a division bench of the apex court led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan will also take up the PTI petition, seeking direction to the ECP to halt the process of delimitation and order holding elections without delay.
PTI lawyers Fawad Chaudhry and Faisal Chaudhry will appear on behalf of PTI Secretary Asad Umar.

Meanwhile, a debate has started among the government lawmakers to initiate proceedings under Article 6 of the Constitution against the PTI leaders on account of subverting the Constitution by annulling the process of no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan through deputy speaker’s ruling and subsequently dissolving the National Assembly.

A PPP lawmaker, however, believes that the SC's detailed judgment in NA speaker’s ruling case will be significant to initiate such proceedings.