Govt allies reject early elections, decide electoral reforms first
Allies decide to take legal opinions of Attorney General before formal response to SC s decision
May 17, 2022 11:23 PM
Coalition partners of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government have unanimously rejected Imran Khan’s demand for early elections and decided to make electoral reforms first.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, a party heads meeting of the government allies was held in Islamabad on Tuesday.
PM Shehbaz presided over the meeting and reviewed the Supreme Court’s opinion about Article 63A.
Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) President Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and other allies including senior members of the federal cabinet also attended the meeting.
Sources said that the allies rejected Imran Khan's demand for giving a date for general elections immediately.
The meeting decided to seek the opinion of legal experts and the Attorney General of Pakistan before formally responding to the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter of floor crossing.
According to sources, the allies demanded immediate steps to stabilize the economy and completion of the electoral reform process without any delay.
Sources said PM Shehbaz Sharif took the allies into confidence on the improvement in the value of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar and other economic issues.
The sources said that the participants called for exposing ousted premier Imran Khan's four-year performance before the people.
It is worth mentioning that the meeting also considered the situation in Punjab after the decision of the Supreme Court. The sources said the ruling Nawaz League has decided to hold a separate consultation on the Punjab situation.
Reporter: Usman Javed