Durrani proposes general, LB polls held in tandem

Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani on Monday presented a formula for reconciliation among political parties and institutions, saying that no one wanted confrontation in the country, rather everybody favoured peace and harmony.

Durrani, a former senator who served as the federal information minister in the cabinet of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, created a buzz on the political scene after holding a call-on meeting with President Dr Arif Alvi a couple of weeks ago.

He had told the media that he held the meeting on his own initiative, saying that he was doing “what Pakistan needs and it is my duty as a politician”. He underscored the importance of taking confidence-building measures.

In an interview with a private TV channel on Monday, Durrani repeated his call for a political reconciliation in the country. For that purpose, he suggested that local bodies elections should also be held in tandem with the general elections.

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“Holding local bodies elections along with the general polls will prevent rigging,” Durrani said. When asked that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) denial of his suggestion, he replied that an ordinance would be required to hold the local bodies and the general elections, simultaneously.

Asked about his parleys with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, he said that several leaders of the former ruling party were against the “politics of confrontation”. He claimed that the PTI chairman also did not want confrontation.

“No one in the country is in favour of politics of confrontation now and everyone wants to see peace and harmony in the country for the prosperity of Pakistan. He added that he also “advised” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif not to adopt the narrative of confrontation. “I’m grateful that Mian Sahab accepted my advice,” he added.