Fawad Chaudhry, the head of the PTI leadership, said on Sunday that his party had a “strategy” in place in the event that discussions with the government to resolve the standoff over elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fell through.
“PTI wishes the success of discussions [with the government], but it has developed a strategy in case of failure,” the former minister Fawad tweeted.
He urged the populace to get ready for a “movement,” saying that the PTI could not remain silent if the Constitution was considered as a useless piece of paper and the people as animals.
The drive for change is starting tomorrow with rallies in Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, going into a historic long march,” declared Fawad.
On the Supreme Court’s advice, negotiations between the government and the PTI started earlier this week. The development was viewed as a breakthrough in the opposition and the ruling coalition’s weeks-long electoral impasse.
Both sides are now anticipated to undertake the last round of negotiations on May 2 after two rounds of discussions.
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Tuesday, however, appears to be going to be difficult for the PTI and government negotiators since the former wants to dissolve assemblies before May 14 and the latter doesn’t seem willing to consider this demand.
The late-night searches on the residence of the former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi shocked the goodwill that had been on show between the two sides all week.
The chances that the debate would produce fruitful outcomes are beginning to appear “very slim” as both main groups are unwilling to move from their respective positions.
Imran Khan, the former prime minister and chairman of the PTI, stated in a speech to party members on Saturday night that his party would only be prepared to talk about the poll date when the NA had been dissolved before May 14, which was the deadline for elections in Punjab set by the highest court in a judgement dated April 4.
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The third session of negotiations between the PTI and the government’s delegation will take place on Tuesday, May 2, and the PTI will express its demand to dissolve the National Assembly before May 14 at that time. Otherwise [PTI] will go ahead with the Punjab general elections as per the Supreme Court’s order,” said Imran. He also said the PTI would also approach the top court for the earliest general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the constitutional time frame of 90 days had already passed.
The PTI leader said that as Pakistanis awaited elections, they were participating in PTI-sponsored peaceful demonstrations. Imran issued a warning to the ruling class, saying, “If elections are denied, these people won’t stay peaceful and Pakistan may face a situation worse than Sri Lanka.”
On May Day (Monday), the former pm also scheduled Labour Day protests with the additional goal of “Save Constitution – Save Pakistan” in Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pervez Khattak would lead demonstrations in Islamabad and Peshawar, respectively, while Imran said that he will lead the Lahore rally from Liberty to Nasser Bagh.
