'Significant progress' made in dialogue with PTI, PDM tells SC

The ruling coalition told the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday that significant progress had been made in the dialogue held with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding holding elections on one date.

“Significant progress has been made since the dialogue process began. The coalition partners believe that political issues can best be resolved through dialogue and are ready to resume the same in the larger national interest," said a statement submitted by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar - one of the dialogue committee members.

The statement maintained that, “The committee further agreed that the caretaker governments should be in place at both the federal and provincial levels for holding general elections justly, fairly and in accordance with law and to provide level playing field to the leadership of all political parties to actively participate in the electoral process."

Dar stated that “there is, however, no agreement on the date of dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan, and both committees had agreed on 02-05-2023 to resume negotiations after getting clearance from their respective leadership”.

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

The statement added that both committees held five formal sessions on April 27, 28 and May 2, in addition to the informal talks that took place between between April 29 and May 1.

Talks with IMF

The committee also apprised the PTI committee that the talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and friendly countries were at the most sensitive and crucial stage.

"In order to avoid any further economic deterioration, it is of utmost necessity that the agreements with the IMF and friendly countries are concluded before the Annual Budget 2023-24,” the statement added.

The statement said that “it was absolutely critical to conclude the IMF ninth review, pass the Annual Budget for FY 2023-24 and approve the Trade Policy 2023-24 before dissolving the National Assembly".

“From the best performing emerging stock market in South Asia and 5th best globally, Pakistan stands downgraded to a frontier market,” the SC was told.

“The PTI committee acknowledged the gravity of economic challenges being faced by Pakistan and agreed to negotiate on holding general elections to the national and all provincial assemblies on the same date,” the statement noted.

It also said that the the coalition partners also showed flexibility to reach a political settlement and considered dissolving the assemblies before the end of the constitutionally mandated terms.

Read more Negotiations only if govt willing to dissolve assemblies now, says Imran

The concise statement by the government comes as the three-judge bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial is set to resume hearing matters related to general elections on Friday (today).

Two days ago, the PTI had filed a civil miscellaneous application (CMA) in the apex court praying that its order on holding the polls in Punjab on May 14 must be ensured.

In its application, the PTI requested the court to hold elections in Punjab on May 14 while submitting a report on the negotiations held between it and the government to decide the date of the elections.

The party informed the top court in its application that the government and PTI could not reach a solution within the Constitution on the Punjab Assembly election dates, “in spite of the best efforts of [the] parties”.