Talks with govt: PTI seeks date for NA dissolution before budget

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation has sought the date for the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) before the budget during the second round of talks with the federal government, ARY News reported on Friday.

PTI chief Imran Khan directed the dialogue committee to conclude negotiation with the federal government at the earliest. It was learnt that Imran Khan instructed the dialogue committee to complete the dialogues within a week.

As per Khan’s directives, PTI sought the date of NA dissolution from the federal government before the budget. Moreover, the delegation also rejected the government’s plan to conduct general elections in October.

READ: PTI, GOVT HOLD SECOND ROUND OF TALKS OVER ELECTION DATE

Sources closer to PTI said that the political tensions can be reduced if the government gives a date for NA dissolution. They added that PTI wants significant progress in talks with the government before the next hearing in the Supreme Court (SC).

They said that PTI will not accept the delaying tactics of the government.

Imran Khan for govt-PTI talks

Prior to this development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said

that negotiations with the coalition government will only go forward if they are willing to dissolve the National Assembly forthwith.

Talking to reporters at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the former prime minister said that he had instructed PTI negotiating team to only talk with the government if they are willing to dissolve the National Assembly now.

READ: MAULANA FAZLUR REHMAN SAYS ‘NOT READY TO HOLD TALKS WITH PTI’

“I have told Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Fawad Chaudhry to only go forward with the talks if the government is willing to dissolve the assembly immediately and hold elections.”

“There is no need to hold a further round of talks if they (govt) repeat the same talk of holding elections in September or October,” he added.

During his informal discussion with the journalists, Imran Khan further said that the “ball” was now in the government’s court on the matter of simultaneous elections.

“If elections are not held on May 14 it means Constitution is torn apart,” said the PTI chief, adding that the Constitution is supreme not the Parliament.