- PM convenes APC to discuss ways to ensure Senate election transparency, second-tier leaderships of prominent political parties to ensure attendance
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a meeting of the parliamentary leaders of political parties at evening today to discuss administrative measures, including the 22nd Constitutional Amendment to ensure transparent Senate elections.
An official at the Prime Minister’s House informed Pakistan Today that the prime minister would chair the meeting which would be attended mainly by the second-tier leadership of the political parties.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Jahangir Tareen and invited PTI for the APC.
Dar asked Tareen to convince Khan to attend the meeting but was informed that Khan would not be available for the meeting. However, a PTI leader told Pakistan Today that Khan is “reluctant” in attending the meeting due to the “foot-dragging” by the prime minister over PTI’s demand for a powerful judicial probe into the allegations of massive vote fraud in 2013 elections.
“Tareen told Dar that Khan might agree to attending the meeting if prime minister announces formation of judicial commission ahead of the meeting,” the source said, adding that Dar promised to get back once he gets a response from the premier.
When contacted, PTI senior leader Naeemul Haq said that most probably the PTI would be represented by Shah Mahmood Qureshi or Dr Arif Alvi or both of them. “However, the matter will be decided by the party leadership. Nonetheless, PTI has decided in principle to support the government’s efforts for making the electoral process for Senate transparent. Whether the political leadership decides to bring in 22nd Constitutional Amendment or they decided to take administrative measures by minor changes into bylaws, PTI will support it,” he added.
Asked why Khan would not attend the meeting if his party was supporting the government, Haq said that Khan had just arrived after a two-day visit of UAE where he attended the investment summit for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), implying that he was tired.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is likely to be represented in the meeting by National Assembly Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah, Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, Senator Raza Rabbani and others. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) is likely to be represented by either party chief Fazlur Rehman or Abdul Ghafoor Hayderi. PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari is in Islamabad but is unlikely to attend the moot as his doctor has advised him bed rest.
Other leaders likely to attend the meeting include Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao, Senator Hasil Bizenjo and others.
