ISLAMABAD: The coalition government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) blamed each other of “stubbornness” regarding same-day elections across the country on Friday.
PML-N leader and Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique and PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi talked to the reporters outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan after hearing of the elections matter.
Both the leaders expressed surprise over response of each other. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he could not understand the reason behind government’s plea before the SC for more time despite that it claimed to hold timely elections while Khawaja Saad Rafique said that he did not know why Imran Khan and his party was in hurry to hold elections timely.
The reaction came after the coalition government asked the top court to give more time for talks with the PTI for elections in the country while the PTI moved the top court for elections in Punjab and the KP.
“I have 8 years long relations with Sindh but my question is that why the Punjab and KP assemblies do not have any value? We are MNAs and we are out of the National Assembly. Why? We resigned for a purpose,” said Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Qureshi said that the coalition government submitted its reply before the Supreme Court but their written reply did not carry the signatures. He stated that their signatures were there on it.
“They have expressed arrogance and they have defied,” said Qureshi, referring to the alleged delaying tactics of the coalition government for talks.
The PTI vice-chairman said that Nawaz Sharif also gave a statement from London that they would not accept the judgment of 4-3 of the Supreme Court.
He stated that the history was being written and a new chapter of the Constitution was being written, and thank God, the PTI is on the side right.
He said the PTI showed flexibility but the government was not showing any flexibility.
“We are holding talks but the government is using delaying tactics and arresting the PTI workers,” said Qureshi.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said that the political disputes should be resolved by the political leaders themselves and it was what they said in the top court. He stated that they agreed to three points.
“We hold many sittings and we strongly believe that the politicians should resolve their differences by sitting together,” said the PML-N leader.
Talking about the confrontation between the state institutions, Khawaja Sa
“Constitution does not bound you for 90 days because it also emphasizes upon free and transparent elections,” said Khawaja Saad Rafiq.
He said that the impression of Punjab’s dominance now should come to an end. He told the court that top court review all these points if it could take suo motu notice.
But he said they also informed the top court that the economic situation was not good and IMF deal was underway but the other side should show some flexibility.
“We once again ask PTI to show some patience and stop stubbornness. You dissolved the assemblies by yourself,” said Khawaja Saad Rafique, adding that why did they dissolve the assemblies.
“More talks should be held because I believe that there could be some way out to deal with the problems,” said the Railways Minister.
