Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry has said if elections talks do not materialise by December 20 then party will dissolve Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies on December 21.

“Coalition parties in Centre are afraid of holding elections as they fear PTI will win,” Fawad said in an interview with private news channel. In an interview, he said, “Elections cannot be held before four months federal and provincial governments need time to work and elections may be delayed even after October next year.” Confirming that PTI had held talks with coalition government, Fawad said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar held two meetings with President Arif Alvi a PTI loyalist. “Ishaq Dar told President that government is ready for elections, but they first need to consult Nawaz Sharif,” former information minister revealed.“Ishaq Dar said he would consult Nawaz Sharif and informed President Arif Alvi.

However, he hasn’t responded yet and we are still waiting,” he said. In a press conference earlier, Fawad had confirmed that PTI and coalition government were indeed holding talks. Assuring that PTI had full support of its ally, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), PTI leader said that Chief Minister Punjab Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi also want assembly’s dissolution and elections within 90 days after they are dissolved.“Pervez Elahi and Monis Elahi have assured us that they will dissolve assembly whenever we ask,” former federal minister said amid PML-Q leaders’ remarks which are in contrast to PTI leadership. Despite back-to-back deadlines of PTI Chairman Imran Khan to dissolve assemblies, Punjab’s Chief Minister said that he did not see elections taking place in next four months. In news conference, senior PTI leader said that party sought “betterment” in ties with armed forces and judiciary, not “deterioration” of their relationship.

In another press conference, Fawad said, “We are seeing that constantly, despite our efforts for betterment, there is deterioration in ties with judiciary and armed forces. Some elements are exacerbating differences.” PTI said country’s leadership should ensure that human rights violations should be stopped immediately. “Way in which law was violated in last 7 to 8 months should end.” He said that after registration of first information reports against Senator Azam Swati who is behind bars in case of controversial tweets FIRs are also being lodged against party leader Shahbaz Gill

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 06 2022

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