News
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Govt, opposition ‘close’ to deal on 20th Amendment* Chaudhry Nisar says lot depends on today’s round of talks
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition on Wednesday appeared to be heading towards evolving a consensus over the 20th Constitutional Amendment when the two sides held talks on a much-needed legislation for parliament.
The PML-N and PPP delegations – led by Nisar Ali Khan and Syed Khurshid Shah, respectively – held a round of talks on the third consecutive day to bridge their differences on the issue. The amendment’s passage from parliament is must to protect legislators who had been elected to assemblies during by-polls under an ‘incomplete’ Election Commission.
“The contentious issue of a caretaker set-up to hold the next general elections has been resolved,” opposition leader in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan said, adding, “Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a make or break day for these talks.” He also said it was premature to talk about the bill before it was passed by parliament.
PPP leader Khurshid Shah said that they would inform the nation about outcome of negotiations “after taking the party’s leadership into confidence”. He said that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was still to be briefed on the proceedings. “We have made enough and meaningful progress in the dialogue.”
Nisar said that his party had suggested that like the Centre, the procedure for the formation of a caretaker government should also be extended to provinces. However, he said a final understanding would be reached in today’s (Thursday) meeting.
Nisar said that action should be taken against the chief election commissioner for conducting the by-elections under an incomplete Election Commission, which had resulted in suspension of 28 members of parliament.
He held the government and chief election commissioner responsible for the suspension of MPs’ memberships. He said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had given him a complete mandate to negotiate with the government on the 20th Amendment.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk