ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court’s deadline to the political parties to evolve a consensus on the date for holding simultaneous general elections in the country entered its last day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned separate meetings of the federal cabinet and the ruling coalition today to discuss the matter, ARY News reported.
According to sources, the federal cabinet will mull over the political situation and the matters related to holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The cabinet will also mull over the issues that surfaced during the consultative process among the political parties, they say, adding the coalition huddle will also consult over the election and the consultative process with various political parties.
Parliamentary leaders of the ruling coalition will attend the session, according to sources. Detailed consultations are expected in the meeting over the political situation while PM Shehbaz Sharif will consult with the allies over talks with the PTI.
The meeting will likely be given a briefing on the economic situation and contacts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the bailout package, sources said.
Parliamentary leaders of the ruling coalition will attend the session, according to sources.
It is to be noted here that the government had assured the Supreme Court of holding talks with the opposition over elections in two provinces on April 26.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had assured the Supreme Court that they will sit with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and try to find a solution on the election date.
The Supreme Court – in its April 4 order – declared Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone elections to the Punjab Assembly till October 8 “unconstitutional” and fixed May 14 as new date.
Read more: SC warns of ‘dire consequences’ over non-provision of election funds
The National Assembly later passed a resolution rejecting the three-member Supreme Court bench’s verdict on the Punjab polls, stating that it would not provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for polls.
from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/h9oGlmc
