All Parties Conference: Political parties support suggestion of not taking oath
APC rejects the results of Wednesdays general elections
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – An All Parties Conference (APC) hosted by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif on Friday rejected the results of Wednesday’s general elections.
The political parties from across the country except Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who participated in the APC held in Islamabad supported the suggestion of not taking oath.
Sources said that the proposal of not taking oath was forwarded by JUI-F chief Moulana Fazlur Rehman and ANP chief Asfandyar Wali.
The JUI-F chief said that worst rigging of the history was seen in Wednesday’s general elections, adding that this is not public mandate, but the public mandate has been robbed.
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“We won’t let anyone hijack democracy,” the JUI-F chief said and added we will again run campaign for elections.
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The MMA chief said that they had struggled for democracy and would not let any pawn of the establishment to run the government.
Speaking on the occasion, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali said that the best way of boycott is that all leader of all political parties don’t take oath.
PSP chairman Mustafa Kamal also supported the suggestion.
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JI chief Sirajul Haq said that they knew the results before elections were held, adding that we should have sit together before the polls.
Dr Farooq Sattar, while presenting the MQM-P’s stance said that PTI leader Jahangir Tareen contacted them. “We support the proposal but we have been ditched in the past,” he said and added they would support if all parties reach consensus.
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Meanwhile, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif said that he is agreed with the decision of the APC. “I will inform about the decision on boycotting the oath-taking ceremony after consulting the party,” he said.
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The latest Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) official partial results showed Khan s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), or Pakistan Movement for Justice party, had won 116 seats out of the National Assembly has 272 seats in total.
Although Khan appeared likely to fall short of the 137 seats needed for a majority in the National Assembly, his better-than-expected results mean he should have no problems forming a government with a handful of small coalition partners.
One of the first tasks for Khan, once he forms the government, will be to avert a currency crisis, which follows four devaluations of the rupee currency since December, and will likely require Islamabad to seek Pakistan s second International Monetary Fund bailout since 2013.
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Despite initially rejecting Khan s win and alleging that vote rigging had taken place, Shahbaz Sharif s Muslim League accepted the results on Friday. Sharif is still behind bars on corruption charges, after being detained upon his return to Pakistan on the eve of the election.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had 64 seats, the results showed. The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was third with 43 seats.
"The PML-N would play the role of a strong opposition," said Shehbaz Sharif.
PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said that work to build the governing coalition was already underway and that the party would consider both independents and allies, in a process that could take several days.
