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Deadlock ends: PTI, govt to hold formal talks tomorrow
* Ahsan Iqbal, Asad Umer exchange positive vibes at preparatory meeting to end political impasse
ISLAMABAD: Setting the dialogue process back into motion between the two sides, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umer joined heads on Thursday to work a way out of the political stalemate that has had the country on the edge for the last four months.
With a team of lawyers in tow, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader called on Umer at senior PTI leader Jehangir Tarin’s residence to discuss the modalities of a judicial commission to be formed to investigate PTI’s election rigging allegations.
Without giving any details, PTI’s Central Information Secretary Shireen Mazari confirmed to a private news channel that both the leaders did hold preliminary talks in the said sitting.
Later, it was revealed that both sides had agreed to hold first round of formal talks tomorrow (Saturday). PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are slated to lead the PTI and government negotiators, respectively.
Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal sounded optimistic about the prospect of negotiations with PTI, saying that the government negotiation team was receiving positive signals from the PTI.
Talking to the media, he said that the both the parties were moving in the right direction for resuming dialogue to settle the ongoing political crisis.
He called for settling all issues through dialogue.
Regarding constitution of a judicial commission to probe the alleged rigging in last general election, he said that there was no delay in the constitution of the commission. On the other hand, Imran Khan said that fresh elections would be inevitable if the judicial commission established rigging.
Speaking at the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Imran said no system was better than democracy, and added that Pakistan remained devoid of genuine democracy.
He further said that two significant features of democracy were meritocracy and accountability. “Prevalence of merit promotes talent and brings it forward, whereas accountability can hold leaders answerable to the law and ensure that they are not above the law.”
Khan emphasised on ensuring rule of law before elections to restrain criminal elements from benefiting from the system, adding that one takes to the road when institutions fail to give justice.
He further referred to Indian democracy stating that India’s election commissioner conducted transparent elections that led that country to move forward with free media and free judiciary.
“Judges should be selected on merit. All political parties admit to rigging, including the ones who won, then why there is a hassle about our demand of recounting in just four constituencies,” he urged.
The PTI chairman offered to conduct recounting in any constituency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, if so desired.
He said the demand to recount votes in only four constituencies was just in the wake of country’s critical situation, adding that he demanded the same in his first address in the National Assembly, at the Supreme Court and in the election tribunal.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk