Fazl stays away from govt, PTI talks on election date

JUI-F chief says party stands by its stance and will not participate in dialogue even in Senate

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced that his party will not be a part of dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to evolve consensus on election date.

The announcement was made following an emergency meeting of the party as the government and opposition kicked off talks in Senate over the date of elections.

"We will not be a part of the negotiations, even in the Senate. We stand by our position," Fazl said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday.

He said that his party has taken a position that the matter should be handled by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which should exercise its powers.

Read more: Negotiations between govt, PTI expected to begin today

"I do not believe that sitting with PTI will lead to a solution. I want to bring to the court's attention that they have not yet recognised him [Imran Khan]," he added.

He said that the Supreme Court's decision to hold the elections on May 14 is not enforceable, and they should correct it themselves, adding that the polls have always been held on a single day in Pakistan throughout its history.

The JUI-F chief said that the party that wins in Punjab will also come to power at the Centre. He said that the Supreme Court says they have nothing to do with the negotiation but also takes a hard stance by staying with their decision regarding polls on May 14. However, he added that at today's hearing, the court's demeanour seemed changed.

Expressing concerns about the accuracy of the census, Fazl said that he has advised the government that the digital method is incorrect, saying that the constituencies will be based on the census results so they must be double-checked.

Read: Fawad moves SC against Punjab, K-P caretaker governments

He questioned when will the accountability process of former prime minister Imran Khan begin, announcing that the party will soon launch a public campaign in this connection.

The development regarding the much-debated negotiations also comes on the back of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial's comments that "courts cannot force political parties to hold negotiations", stressing that the apex court merely sought adherence to the Constitution and an end to the impasse over the delay of elections.

The CJP's comments came earlier in the day as the Supreme Court resumed hearing the case related to delay in Punjab polls.

Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan told the court that Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani would form a committee comprising members from both sides of the aisle to evolve a consensus to hold elections of national and provincial assemblies on same date.

The three-judge bench suggested the political parties evolve consensus on one date for elections in the national interest, respect of the Constitution, and welfare of the people. "Otherwise," the court feard, "things would stay the same".

Last week, adopting a carrot and stick policy, the apex court had asked all political parties to evolve a consensus on the date for holding simultaneous general elections of the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies expeditiously; otherwise, the court had noted, its order regarding the Punjab Assembly elections on May 14 would come into force.

A day earlier, addressing separate huddles of the parties in the ruling coalition, the PML-N parliamentary party and cabinet, the premier said elections were an issue that needed to be decided in parliament and the appropriate time to conduct them was either in October or November.