ISLAMABAD: Asad Qaiser, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), said the opposition party would be willing to engage with the government if it agreed to hold early elections but added the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would have to publicly declare its readiness to engage in negotiations regarding the schedule.
During an interview with Dawn News, he said that if a constitutional amendment was necessary to adjust the schedule beyond the mandatory 90-day period and prevent anarchy in the country, his party would support it.
The Supreme Court has twice declared that polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, where the party of former prime minister Imran Khan disbanded parliaments in January to pave way for snap elections, must take place within 90 days from the date of dissolution.
The two regions have been under caretaker governments since early January. According to the Constitution, these interim governments are supposed to remain neutral. However, Khan has repeatedly accused them of taking orders from the central government in Islamabad.
Qaiser said: “We want the government to sit together [for talks on elections] and we are also ready for a constitutional amendment, if for one time, the [polls] can be extended beyond 90 days. What more flexibility can we offer?”
Qaiser further emphasised it is the responsibility of the government to take the initiative for talks and urged the prime minister to publicly announce his willingness to hold discussions. He added: “Then we will sit and settle the matters together — this is the need of the hour that political leaders talk things out.”
He also accused the government of merely wanting to buy time and not being serious about holding fair and transparent elections.
The former speaker of the National Assembly also accused the government of attacking the Supreme Court, observing the recently passed Supreme Court law was a dishonest attempt to provide relief to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Qaiser emphasised the Supreme Court had a responsibility to safeguard the Constitution, which was currently at stake. He assured that the PTI would not engage in political revenge against its opponents if it came to power.
According to Qaiser, Khan had declared his willingness to forgive those who had attacked him and had advocated for truth and reconciliation.
