PTI, PML-Q to contest elections jointly
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday formed a three-member committee to discuss seat adjustment with the PML-Q for the next elections.
Sources said PTI Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi led the committee while former defence minister Parvez Khattak and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry were its members. The committee would hold its first meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi on Tuesday to decide SOPs for negotiations. The committee, sources said, would also review the electoral position of the PTI in constituencies where the PML-Q was asking for seat adjustment. It would later submit a final report on negotiations to the PTI chief.
The PML-Q has demanded seat adjustments in more than two dozen constituencies with the PTI before the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. Last week, Mr Khan announced that the assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa would be dissolved on Dec 23. Sources said the PML-Q wanted that the PTI finalise an agreement on the seat adjustment before the dissolution of assemblies.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Monday new provincial assemblies would be elected for five years if the PTI disbanded the Punjab and KP assemblies. It said by-election could not be held now after dissolution of an assembly. It also expressed resolve to hold polls within 90 days in line with theConstitution of Pakistan after the dissolution of assemblies.
Meanwhile Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supremo Imran Khan on Monday while reacting to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s statement in favor of ex-COAS General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa’s favor said that PTI and PML-Q will contest elections together apart from differences. Sources privy to the development, the deposed premier told the PTI stalwarts not to change their narrative, and not to get confused with CM Elahi’s statement. —NNI
