ISLAMABAD: A committee of leaders representing federal government and team of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior leaders finally kicked off highly-anticipated negotiations at Parliament House in efforts to build consensus on holding elections for national and provincial assemblies on one date.

Members of the ruling coalition and opposition PTI will resume talks on elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today, following the initiation of dialogue at the Parliament House yesterday.

Government nominated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior leaders Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Law Minister Azam Tarar and Ayaz Sadiq and Pakistan Peoples’ Party leaders Yousaf Raza Gillani and Syed Naveed Qamar as members of committee. MQM-P’s Kishwar Zehra was also part of government-nominated committee.

Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Barrister Ali Zafar and senior leader Fawad Chaudhry represented former ruling party. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl skipped talks. As per details, first round of talks between government and opposition concluded, with both sides set to meet on Friday at 3pm to continue negotiation process. Speaking to reporters after meeting, Gillani said that PTI will present its demands before government negotiating committee today. “Today’s discussions were held in positive atmosphere,” he said. He mentioned that government has no specific demands and will present PTI’s demands to coalition leadership. Finance Minister Dar said government committee had taken principled stance to handle matter within constitutional limits. He emphasised importance of taking into account interest of state and people. He said that both committees with consult with their leadership after meeting. Furthermore, he said that there will be detailed meeting on Friday to discuss matter further. Development comes hours after Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani wrote separate letters to leader of house and opposition to nominate members from both treasury and opposition benches to constitute special committee for holding political dialogue. Sanjrani stated that Senate of Pakistan, House of Federation, being stabilising factor of federation is constitutionally bestowed with responsibility of protecting national and political harmony vis-a-vis national and public interest. “By assuming this responsibility and taking note that Parliament is right and only forum for resolution of political issues, given prevailing political and economic situation, committee comprising of members of Senate belonging to both sides of aisle has been proposed to address ongoing political and economic crisis, including holding of general elections.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 28 2023

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