Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who is part of a government team holding talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the critical issue of general elections in the country, said on Tuesday that a consensus was reached on holding elections across the country on the same day under a caretaker set-up.
The announcement by Dar came after members of the ruling coalition and opposition PTI concluded the third round of crucial talks at the Parliament House on Tuesday night.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed the development separately and said his party had “shown flexibility for the sake of national consensus”. He however announced that the PTI would approach the Supreme Court, brief it on negotiations with the government and request elections in Punjab on May 14.
Talking to the media after Tuesday’s meeting, Dar said, “There was no longer any confusion about whether there should be separate elections in one or two provinces […] and the two sides have agreed that holding elections in the country on the same day was for the betterment.”
Another positive outcome of the talks is that elections would be held under caretaker set-ups, he said, adding that a consensus had yet to be reached on the date for the elections in the country. “We have narrowed down on the date … but we have yet to reach an agreement,” he said, adding that both sides would consult their leadership on the issue.
The finance minister described the consensus on elections across Pakistan on the same day “a big progress”. He said both sides had shown flexibility and “the third stage (finalisation of the election date), which will be the final stage, will also be successful” if they continue to work towards a resolution with sincerity.
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Adding to Dar’s conversation, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said it was also agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that both sides would accept the election results.