Shehbaz, Fazl want ECP to consult stakeholders

PDM president opposes contesting NA by-elections

LAHORE:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured Maulana Fazlur Rehman that the decision whether or not to contest the upcoming by-polls will be taken after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) reaches a consensus.

According to a former PML-N office bearer familiar with the development, Fazl, the president of PDM and chief of JUI-F, called on the PM at his residence in Model Town on Saturday.

He said that the Maulana during the meeting reiterated his position before the premier that the PDM should not contest the upcoming by-elections. The two leaders, he claimed, also discussed the political situation in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that it was agreed between the two that the Election Commission of Pakistan should take all stakeholders on board, and take its decision regarding the elections in Punjab and K-P based on ground realities.

Both the leaders also discussed possibilities of contesting elections in alliance with all parties in the government and devising a seat-adjustment formula. He said that meeting lasted for around an hour.

He said that PM Shehbaz assured Maulana Fazl that the decision of going to elections would be taken in consultation with all allied parties.

The premier said that they believed in constructive politics, adding that it was agreed that a consensus should be reached among all parties to address the economic problems and to decide the fate of elections.

When asked about the meeting, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ata Tarar said that he was not aware of the discussion but that no decision had been taken regarding by elections by the PML-N. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was not available for comments.

It was revealed that Maryam Nawaz also met the Prime Minister at his residence the same day. It was said that Maryam shared her preliminary plan for reorganisation of the party with the PM Shehbaz who is also the president of his party.

It was revealed that party president assured his full support to Maryam, who was recently elevated to the rank of senior vice president and also given the responsibility to organise her party.