Electoral rigging: Matter may be resolved within a week, says Dar

PTI's Shah Mehmood adds that there has been considerable progress in talks with the government

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that there has been considerable progress in talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over their longstanding demand of a probe into alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections, and the matter may even be resolved within a week, Express News reported.

Dar, along with PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jahangir Tareen, was addressing the media after a meeting at the Tareen's house in Islamabad.

“…I am hopeful of concluding this issue in the coming week,” the finance minister said, adding that the “Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership, particularly PM Nawaz Sharif, want this political saga to end.”

“..I must acknowledged that they (the PTI) is also cooperating, and we are very close to resolving the issue,” he added.

The minister said other parties are also a part of the process, and they will share the final document with them as well.

Qureshi also spoke on the occasion and said there was considerable progress in Friday’s talks with the government.

“There has been an agreement on things… as well as the Terms of Reference,” he said. “It is our resolve, in view of greater national interest, to finalise an agreement [on the alleged electoral rigging and its investigation by a judicial commission] soon.”

Responding to a question on electoral reforms, Qureshi said the PTI was interested in electoral reforms such that there be an independent election commission to ensure free and fair elections, once there was a decision on the formation of a judicial commission to investigate 2013 polls.

Tareen added that their party would decide on returning to the assemblies after an agreement on the matter of poll rigging was reached.