PDM parties do not see eye to eye on dialogue with PTI

PPP says it won’t tolerate any delay in holding elections beyond mandated date

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The ruling coalition has apparently developed rift regarding holding dialogue with the PTI to resolve contentious issues with the Pakistan Peoples Party, after its core committee meeting, saying shutting doors for talks was is not a solution to problems. 

The PPP emphasised the need for all political parties to sit together and hold dialogue for resolving issues. However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have shown inflexible attitude in this regard and rejected the idea of having a dialogue with Imran Khan-led party.

PPP leader Farhatullah Babar, after the PPP core committee meeting, said the party had decided to approach other parties in the coalition government for taking a joint position on issue of dialogue among the political parties. The meeting was chaired by its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PPP (Parliamentarian) President Asif Ali Zardari. Mr Babar said the PPP believed there were many reasons for current political crisis apart from a ‘minority verdict’ taking precedence over the majority court verdict.

He said the PPP was of the opinion that the judiciary’s honour and prestige should not be allowed to be weakened in any way. There should be expeditious efforts to resolve the numerous apparently conflicting verdicts of the honourable court.

The coalition party said in the interest of fair and free elections, general polls to all assemblies should be held the same day as per Constitution. The PPP reiterated that it would not tolerate any delay in holding of elections beyond the mandated date in the constitution, Babar said.

Previously, PML-N Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, speaking in the Senate, had said national unity was essential and urged for holding a dialogue to steer the country out of the political quagmire. He advised both ruling coalition and the opposition PTI to end their ongoing fights with the judiciary and the military establishment, respectively.

The PML-N and JUI-F have shown inflexibility for talks with the PTI at a time when the opposition party’s chairman Imran Khan has expressed willingness that not he but his party men were ready to hold talks with the government on key national issues including elections and poor economy.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq at a religious moot said in order to end uncertainty in the country, general elections should be held in July 2023.