Raja asked to begin talks on caretaker govt

ISLAMABAD: The core committee of the ruling PPP asked Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday to begin consultations with all political parties for the selection of a caretaker set-up and finalisation of election dates at the national and provincial levels.

The committee, which met at the Prime Minister’s House, also reiterated the party’s stand that, come what may, no delay would be accepted in holding free and fair elections
The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Ashraf, was attended by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senator Jahangir Badar, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Rana Farooq Saeed, Syed Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Farooq Naek, Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Moula Baksh Chandio, Syed Khursheed Shah, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Senator Raza Rabbani and Senator Farhatullah Babar.
The meeting unanimously asked Prime Minister Ashraf to start contacting all political forces for holding trouble-free elections both at the federal and provincial levels, he said.
The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Ashraf, was attended by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senator Jahangir Badar, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Rana Farooq Saeed, Syed Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Farooq Naek, Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Moula Baksh Chandio, Syed Khursheed Shah, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Senator Raza Rabbani and Senator Farhatullah Babar.
It resolved that free and fair elections would be held in accordance with the Constitution and within the time limit stipulated in it and would not be delayed even for a day, a handout released after the meeting said.
The committee also felicitated the prime minister over his handling of the situation in Balochistan after Hazara community’s unprecedented protest, and the recent threats mounted by some elements to postpone the elections.
PML-N: Earlier in the day, the main opposition PML-N once again called upon the federal government to announce the election date.
Leader of the opposition in National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, told reporters outside the Parliament House that he had a hunch that attempts were being made to delay the elections.
He also refused to accept the agreement between the government and the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran, led by Dr Qadri, for electoral reforms.
Chaudhry Nisar said that as the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, he had already approached all political parties in and outside parliament about selection of the caretaker prime minister.
After due consultations, the opposition would not only suggest a couple of names for caretaker prime minister, but also for caretaker chief ministers, he added. Chaudhry Nisar said the government would have to listen to the PML-N as it was the major opposition party in the National Assembly and the ruling party in Punjab, and not Dr Qadri, about dissolution of the assemblies.
If the government wanted to dissolve the national and provincial assemblies at the same time, “the PML-N holds key to that”, he said.
Talking to Dawn, Chaudhry Nisar said that if the government implemented Dr Qadri’s demand of holding the elections in 90 days, they would be postponed until June, which no party would prefer because of the severe hot weather.

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