Files a petition in apex court after no breakthrough in talks
ISLAMABAD, MAY 3 /DNA/ – In spite of the best efforts, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and government negotiating teams could not arrive at any constitutional solution to hold polls across the country on same date, the PTI requested the Supreme Court (SC) to implement its judgement dated April 4 in letter and spirit regarding holding polls in Punjab on May 14.
In the light of the apex court’s order, PTI submitted a constitutional petition on behalf of its negotiation team on Wednesday, praying that the SC should execute its judgement of April 4, 2023 to hold polls of the Punjab Assembly on May 14 so that the Constitution is upheld and does not stand violated.
It was stated that the SC in its order dated April 4 suggested that the political parties may meet together and hold a dialogue to determine the way forward for holding of elections to the Assemblies of Pakistan in accordance with the Constitution.
PTI in accordance with its commitment made before the top court constituted a three members committee comprising PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, and Senator Ali Zafar.
The government’s negotiating team had members from almost all parties except JUI-F. The committee included Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, PPP Senator Yousaf Raza Gilani, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar and others.
It was stated in the petition that members of both the negotiating teams deliberated and held a dialogue with full sincerity on April 27, April 28.04 and May 02, 2023 during which they arrived at certain consensus.
They were unanimous on the point that dialogue between political parties is important and the solution to all political questions ultimately lies with the political parties.
They also agreed that both the teams would endeavor to hold this talks with full sincerity and try to arrive at a solution which is in the best interest of the people, Pakistan and in accordance with law and the Constitution.
Similarly, the negotiating teams agreed that this dialogue would not be used as a delaying tactic and and has no bearing on SC’s April 4 judgement until and unless an agreement within the confines of the Constitution is arrived at between the parties and such agreement is implemented.
It was stated that PTI initially was of the opinion that the elections to the Assemblies have to be held within 90 days and that the SC has already determined that the Constitutional timeframe for holding elections to the Punjab Assembly is May 14 and there is no scope for changing this date by ordinary consent of the parties.
During the talks, PTI stressed that the PDM and alliance should abide by the Constitutional provisions and the orders of the SC and hold the elections in Punjab on the given date, besides holding polls to KP Assembly forthwith.
However, it was stated that the government team argued that the elections to the NA and all provincial assemblies including Punjab and KP should be held on the same date in October, 2023 after dissolution of NA and the assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan upon completion of their terms in second week of August, 2023.
After full deliberations, PTI gave a proposal to the government team that the PTI was willing to hold the elections to the National Assembly and all Provincial Assemblies on the same date if NA and Sindh and Balochistan assemblies be dissolved on or before May 14, 2023.
It was pleaded that the elections to the NA as well as to all provincial assemblies be held together within 60 days of the dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies in the second week of July, 2023.
It was proposed that in order to give a constitutional cover to the holding of the elections in Punjab and KP beyond the period of 90 days, PTI MNAs would rejoin the NA and a one-time constitutional amendment validating the delay in elections beyond the period of 90 days for Punjab and KPK Assemblies shall be carried out by mutual consent of the political parties.
Moreover, the PTI team suggested that all the parties would agree that the election results shall be accepted and an agreement in writing would be submitted before the top court to ensure the implementation of the agreement in letter and spirit.
However, PTI contended in the petition that PDM/alliance did not agree with this proposal and proposed that the dissolution of the NA and Sindh and Balochistan assemblies shall take place on July 30, 2023 and elections be held in 90 days i.e. the first week of October 2023 unanimously across the country.
It was stated that there was also a lack of consensus between the parties in relation to the process for the implementation of the agreement namely through the constitutional amendment.
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