Dissolve assemblies forthwith if want negotiations to go forward: EX PM Imran Khan tell govt

EX PM Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stated on Friday that negotiations with the coalition government will only take place if they agree to dismiss the National Assembly immediately.

Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the former prime minister stated that he had instructed the PTI negotiating team to only meet with the government if they were willing to dissolve the National Assembly immediately.

“I have told Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Fawad Chaudhry that we will only proceed with the talks if the government is willing to dissolve the assembly and hold elections immediately.”

“There is no need for another round of talks if they (the government) keep talking about holding elections in September or October,” he continued.

During an informal interaction with the media, Imran Khan added that the “ball” was now in the government’s court about simultaneous elections.

“If elections are not held on May 14, it means the Constitution is being torn apart,” claimed the PTI head, adding that the Constitution, not the Parliament, is supreme.

Former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was also chastised by the PTI chief for putting a “band of thieves” on the country.

Govt-PTI second round of talks today

Meanwhile, the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegations will meet again today (Friday), after the first round of discussions on holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) concluded on Thursday.

The government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were negotiating on Parliament House to break the political impasse over elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which ended after nearly two hours.

PTI was represented at the talks by a three-member team consisting of Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, and Senator Ali Zafar.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Senator Yousuf Raza Gillani, Saad Rafique, Naveed Qamar, and Kishwar Zehra are on the government’s panel.

Speaking to journalists following the meeting, PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gilani said the ruling parties would deliberate and make a decision. “Whatever is decided, it will be based on input from all parties,” he said.

The negotiations would resume tomorrow at 3 p.m., during which the PTI would offer its proposals, according to Gilani, who said that the coalition parties would then be informed of the PTI’s demands.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stated that it had been largely decided that the issues would be resolved within the framework of the Constitution.

During a press conference, Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that the consultations lasted two hours and that political parties find solutions to problems through dialogue.

However, he said, that his party would not allow the talks to be used as a delaying tactic for elections.

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