In a major development, the ruling PML-N has decided to hold consultations with its coalition partners to discuss the offer for dialogue made by PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
According to the details, coalition partners have already begun consultations and will formally meet today at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s residence today.
The PDM coalition will discuss the possible dissolution of the Punjab Assembly and will also talk about offers on political negotiations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will consult PML-N Supreme leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue of negotiations.
The federal government and its allies will make a final decision after the consultative session.
Read more: MQM-P considers quitting PDM govt?
Imran Khan’s offer
Pakistan is once again going through a political crisis with former premier Imran Khan announcing to quit all assemblies and the Punjab and KPK provincial governments supporting his call for dissolving the assemblies.
However, on Friday, Imran Khan offered conditional talks to the coalition government, which is being considered a significant positive development amid the ongoing political crisis in the country.
The PTI chairman extended dialogue offer to the PDM government while addressing the PTI’s Punjab parliamentary party via a video link from his Lahore’s Zaman Park residence.
Read more: PDM working to remove Punjab CM Parvez Elahi?
While inviting the PDM government over the possibility of early general elections, Imran Khan said that 66 percent of Pakistan would have to vote for the by-polls if assemblies were dissolved in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Early general elections is the only way to save the country from default,” said Imran and lamented the rising inflation and unemployment rate during current govt tenure.
Chairman PTI @ImranKhanPTI explains the reason behind the move of dissolving provincial assemblies. pic.twitter.com/o3RQTfcP0O
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 2, 2022
On the other hand, the federal government ruled out any notion of holding early elections. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, soon after Imran Khan’s offer, replied in a tweet in two words —“Elections 2023”.
اکتوبر 2023 pic.twitter.com/Ej9yJz6dAi
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) December 2, 2022
However, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday said the federal government would respond to the offer after consultation with the allies.