Nawaz, Zardari to likely hold crucial meeting today

PPP co-chair and Bilawal expected to meet with PML-N supremo in Dubai, consult on elections and caretaker set-up

ISLAMABAD:

An important meeting between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairpersons Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is expected to take place today in Dubai.

According to Express News, Bilawal arrived in Dubai from Karachi via Emirates Air Flight EK601, while his father, Zardari arrived in Dubai two days earlier.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif is also in town.

The coalition partners are likely to discuss details about the upcoming general elections and caretaker set-up. Moreover, they may review the role of allies in the upcoming elections, seat adjustment, setup of the caretaker government and the name of the caretaker prime minister.

Earlier, sources in the federal cabinet told The Express Tribune that the PML-N was considering proposing the name of Ishaq Dar for the caretaker prime minister as part of a broader plan to ensure the implementation of the economic policies.

The final decision about the candidature of Dar will be taken next week in consultation with the PPP, however.

Read Chances of Nawaz returning soon dim

The PML-N sources said that the government was considering amending Section 230 of the Elections Act 2017, empowering the caretaker set-up to take economic decisions. They said that the amendments to the elections act might be introduced in the National Assembly next week.

The amendments would allow the caretaker government to take decisions necessary to revive the economy.

According to Section 230, a caretaker (interim) government shall only perform its functions to attend to day-to-day matters which are necessary to run the affairs of the government. It will assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding the general elections in accordance with law and restrict itself to activities that are of routine, non-controversial and urgent nature, in the public interest and can be reversed by a future elected government.

The present law also bars the caretaker government from taking major policy decisions, except on urgent matters. It cannot enter into a major contract or undertaking if it is detrimental to the public interest, and it also cannot enter into major international negotiation with any foreign country or international agency; or sign or ratify any international binding instrument, except in an exceptional case.

The sources said that the proposal was to amend both the sub-sections of Section 230 that deal with the authority bestowed upon the interim set-up.

Read More ECP shows interim K-P minister the door

Neither Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar nor Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb responded to the requests for comments on the proposed amendments to the elections act.

The meeting would mark a second round of consultations between the two coalition's top leadership in a month.

Previously, on June 28, an important meeting between Nawaz and Zardari and Bilawal was held in Dubai.

According to the sources, in this important meeting, the date of dissolution of the assemblies for the general elections, interim government and seat adjustment were discussed as well as the broader political situation and the future plan of action.

In the meeting, Nawaz’s return to the country was also consulted.