Khan says no talks if govt insists on elections in Sept or Oct

Talks between PTI-govt resume second day.

Islamabad_Imran Khan said on Friday that he has instructed leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Fawad Chaudhry to only talk with the government if they are willing to dissolve the National Assembly.

“I am telling these two if the government is ready to dissolve the National Assembly at once and hold elections then talk. If they (govt) repeat the same talk of holding elections in September or October then there is no need,” said the PTI chief while talking to reporters at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

He was flanked by Qureshi and Fawad when he was speaking to the media. On Thursday, these two, along with Barrister Ali Zafar, held the first round of talks with the government on elections. The two sides will meet again today.

During his informal discussion with the journalists at the IHC, the PTI chief also stated that the “ball” was now in the government’s court on the matter of elections.

“If elections are not held on May 14 it means Constitution is torn apart. If the Constitution is violated then whoever has power will have his way,” said the PTI chief.

He added that his party always respected the Supreme Court adding that there was no comparison between the PTI and Pakistan Democratic Movement as his party was with the Constitution while the other was against it.

“The Constitution is supreme not the Parliament,” said Khan.

To end what can be termed as a standstill on the elections, the second round of talks between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the ruling coalition commenced on Friday.

Ahead of the meeting, the delegations representing two sides called on the Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani in the Parliament House.

The meeting comes a day after the ruling coalition and the PTI sat across the table for negotiations for the first time since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took office.

The government side comprises Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Yousaf Raza Gillani and Kishwar Zehra of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

The PTI is represented by its Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry and Senator Barrister Ali Zafar. Earlier in the day, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry is hopeful that the impasse between the government and his party over elections will break up and matters will move forward.

The situation remains tense, with both sides continuing to hold their respective positions. However, Chaudhry’s statements indicate that there may be some hope for a resolution to the current impasse, and that all parties may be willing to engage in constructive dialogue to find a way forward.

PTI leader stressed the importance of recognizing the people as the center of power and moving towards holding free and fair elections as the main point of negotiations.

He urged all parties involved to understand each other’s point of view and work together for the betterment of the country.

Chaudhry emphasized that the en masse resignation of lawmakers was a step taken to hold general elections in the country.

He further stated that the court’s decision to change the definition of en masse resignation was the cause of the current crisis.