PTI 'willing' to talk to federal govt on next elections

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is reportedly willing to negotiate with the incumbent federal government regarding the next electoral framework despite the party’s decision to dissolve the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies.

A senior leader of the PTI told The Express Tribune that the PTI was willing to talk with the federal government regarding the next election. However, he claimed that the primary issue was the “worsening economic situation” in the country.

“Our economic team has conveyed to the leadership that the country would default if elections were held in the month of November. Then we, in power, would not be in a position to control the situation,” he stated.

The PTI leader maintained that the party leaders may be ready to accept elections in August or September if the government shared an economic plan.

“Principally we agree that all national and provincial assemblies’ elections should be held on one date,” says PTI leader said.

Confirming the development, senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in a Twitter post said that if the government announced early elections, his party was ready to negotiate framework of elections and changes in ECP.

Moreover, President Arif Alvi also reportedly discussed the prevailing political situation with the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir in a meeting on Wednesday.

On the other hand, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that he suggested the ruling party’s leadership should not resist the dissolution of the provincial assembly and opt for elections in the Punjab Assembly.

He believed that the continuity of Pervez Elahi as chief minister was more challenging than early elections in the province, adding that Elahi is distributing massive development funds and employment among members of the provincial assembly which may severally affect the election results in November.

“Therefore, we should go for early elections in Punjab and continue with the federal government,” he added.

He confirmed that one section within the government wanted to hold a dialogue with the PTI regarding general elections in May or June.

A lawyer, however, claimed that such a task would be possible if PML-N had the required numbers.

Meanwhile, Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali while talking to The Express Tribune has also urged the leadership of political parties to sit together for economic accord in the country

Sources revealed that PML-N leadership asked Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shahbaz to come to Islamabad on Thursday and brief them about the numbers.

Political analysts said that if the government and establishment guarantee that there will be no coercive actions against PTI leaders, especially Imran Khan, then the party may agree to not dissolve the Punjab Assembly forthwith.