News
Monday, July 30, 2012
Talks between PPP, PML-N on interim set-up after Eid* Timeframe for elections will be key point at talks to be held between PM Raja and opp leader in NA Ch Nisar
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Publicly denying holding any behind-the-scene talks, both Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will hold talks after Eidul Fitr on a caretaker set-up to hold next general elections, while the timeframe for these elections will be key point under discussion, Daily Times learnt on Sunday.
Sources told Daily Times these would be formal talks between the two parties on a caretaker government and its head. Recently, the reports emerged of secret talks between the two parties over a caretaker set-up, but both sides denied any meetings on this issue.
The sources, however, said these behind-the-curtain negotiations were indeed held and now both parties will hold formal talks after the upcoming Eid. PML-N sources said the talks would be held between Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to discuss the issue, as per the 20th Amendment.
The amendment states, “In case the PM and the opposition leader do not agree on any person to be appointed as the caretaker prime minister, within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, they shall forward two nominees each to a committee to be immediately constituted by the speaker of the National Assembly, comprising eight members of the outgoing National Assembly and the Senate, having equal representation from the treasury and the opposition, to be nominated by the prime minister and the opposition leader, respectively.”
The PML-N has been pressing for early elections, but the ruling PPP seems in no mood to go for polls before their scheduled time. The PPP publicly says that polls will be held when the tenure of the sitting assemblies ends in the first quarter of next year.
Sources said following a consensus over the chief election commissioner despite bitter relations between the two parties, one hopes that both parties could also reach on a consensus person to head the caretaker set-up.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk