Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf submitted report to Supreme Court on negotiations with Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government, requesting top court to ensure implementation on its April 4 judgment regarding holding elections to Punjab Assembly on May 14.

سپریم کورٹ کے حکم کی روشنی میں پنجاب میں 14 مئی کو انتخاب کے انعقاد کا معاملہ

پاکستان تحریک انصاف نے معاملے پر باضابطہ طور پر سپریم کورٹ سے رجوع کر لیا

تحریک انصاف کی مذاکراتی ٹیم کی جانب سے سپریم کورٹ میں باضابطہ درخواست دائر

سپریم کورٹ سے پنجاب میں انتخابات کے حوالے سے 4… pic.twitter.com/vBjI0HbOek

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 3, 2023

In report, PTI apprised apex court of progress on negotiations, saying it held three rounds of talks with team of ruling PDM, an alliance of 13 political parties in line with commitment made to top court in Punjab elections delay case. During negotiations, both sides agreed to hold elections on same day across country but failed to evolve consensus on date of polls, it added. In report, PTI further said it has set some conditions for holding elections simultaneously across country which included dissolution of National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan on or before May 14. Elections to lower house of Parliament as well as to provincial legislature of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan be held together within 60 days of dissolution of national and provincial assemblies i.e. in second week of July, 2023. “In order to give constitutional cover to holding of elections to provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP beyond period of 90 days, members of National Assembly belonging to PTI will rejoin National Assembly and one-time constitutional amendment validating delay in elections beyond period of 90 days for Punjab and KP assemblies shall be carried out by mutual consent of political parties,” opposition party said.

PTI further demanded that all political parties should agree that election results will be accepted as “Whole subject to individual grievances in accordance with law”. “An Agreement in writing to above effect shall be submitted before Supreme Court of Pakistan in order to ensure that implementation of agreement is complied with by parties in letter and spirit,” it added. Moreover, PTI said ruling PDM however did not agree with their proposal.

Instead, report stated, PDM proposed that dissolution of National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan shall take place on July 30, 2023, and elections be held in 90 days thereafter i.e. first week of October 2023 for National Assembly and all provincial legislatures together. PTI said despite “Best efforts of parties”, no solution within Constitution could be arrived at.

Earlier government assured Supreme Court of holding talks with opposition over elections in two provinces on April 26. During SC's last hearing on polls delay case, PPP and PML-N assured SC that they will sit with PTI and try to find solution on election date.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 04 2023

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