During the negotiations between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf, both sides agreed to hold simultaneous elections across the country. However, the final date of the elections has not been decided.
The third round of negotiations to hold simultaneous elections took place on Tuesday at 9:00 pm. The meeting was supposed to take place at 11:00 am. However, both sides agreed to reschedule the talks. The negotiations ended around 11:30 pm. After the talks, Ishaq Dar, Yousuf Raza Gillani, and Shah Mehmood Qureshi addressed the media and briefed them about the meeting.
As per the details, PTI recommended holding elections in August. PTI said that elections can be held between the second and third week of August. Media sources stated that PTI leadership would send the draft of their recommendation to the Supreme Court.
Earlier, two rounds of negotiations took place where Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Railway Minister Saad Rafique, Federal Miniset Ayaz Sadiq, PPP leaders Yousuf Raza Gillani & Syed Naveed Qamar, and MQM leader Kishwar Zehra represented the government. On the other hand, PTI nominated Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, and Ali Zafar as their representatives. Note that no member of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (JUI-F) has taken part in the meetings. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl-Ur-Rehman said that he would participate in negotiations with PTI.
First Round of Negotiations between Government and PTI
In the first round of meetings, both sides presented their opinions on the table. Ishaq Dar briefed that a discussion was held on TOR, and all decisions would be made as per the constitution.
Yousuf Raza Gillani added that talks occurred in a positive atmosphere, and hoped the pattern would continue. Shah Mehmood Qureshi emphasized the importance of ending the state of agitation in the country.
Second Round of Negotiations
As the talks entered the next round, PTI asked the government to provide a time frame for dissolving the assemblies. The government asked PTI to show some flexibility in their demands. After which the talks were rescheduled to take place on May 2, 2023. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that both sides tabled their views and adequate progress has been made.
Before Tuesday’s round of negotiations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that they were directed to hold talks. He added that coalition parties maintained a justifiable stance.
