Progress made in talks with PTI, says minister

Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) reiterated on Wednesday his party’s stance that political issues must be resolved through dialogue, while remaining within the ambit of the law and the Constitution.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the minister held the view that elections should be conducted on the same day across the country, and said that it would be in the best interests of the nation.

The minister took strong exception to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition in the Supreme Court, saying that the move gave the impression that the apex court was standing by the party.

"The PTI thinks that the judiciary is favouring it," Qamar said. "Why go to the Supreme Court in the middle of the ongoing negotiations with the government?" the minister wondered.

Recalling the recent talks held with the PTI on the issue of removing misgivings on the upcoming elections in the country, the minister claimed that positive progress was made on various points raised by both sides.

"We want to resolve the issues amicably with the PTI, we desire success and progress on this front. The ruling collation shows all the flexibility that is needed as well as their respect for the Constitution," he added.

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He also said that it was the stance of the government that the National Assembly and the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies should not be dissolved before completing their constitutional terms.

Qamar said that through dialogue, the government wanted to make things acceptable to all. "This can be achieved through flexibility, and not through a rigid stance," he added. He also said that “political leaders have always shown flexibility” in solving problems.

"Politics is the art of the possible," the commerce minister told the lower house of parliament. He added that political dialogue had been started with the PTI to come out of the current political crisis.

The minister said that various rounds of talks were held with the PTI. He added that the PPP had taken all the political forces on board to bring the country out of the current challenges.

Parliament had the authority to make legislation for the welfare of the people and to run the affairs of the country, he said, adding that the issue of the date of the election was also taken into consideration in negotiations with PTI.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)