Shehbaz and Zardari Firmly Against Polls Delay as PDM Leaders Discuss Interim Setup

With just four weeks remaining until the completion of the National Assembly’s term, discussions on seat adjustment and the caretaker set-up ahead of the general elections have taken center stage, leading to intensified politicking among parties.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen. During the meeting with Zardari, both leaders emphasized the importance of holding the upcoming general elections on time and agreed on selecting a senior politician as the caretaker prime minister instead of a bureaucrat.

The selection of the caretaker prime minister involves consultation between the outgoing prime minister and the leader of the opposition. If they fail to agree on a candidate, a committee is formed with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition to finalize the appointment.

In a separate meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz visited Tareen to offer condolences on the loss of Tareen’s brother, Alamgir Khan Tareen. Shehbaz expressed sympathy for the grieving family and prayed for the elevation of the deceased’s rank in the hereafter.

The recent meetings come after the PPP and IPP reacted to the PML-N’s indication of contesting the elections independently in Punjab, showing reluctance towards seat adjustments. While the PML-N did not rule out the possibility of seat adjustments in certain constituencies, their criteria would prioritize dedicated and winning candidates.

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These decisions triggered strong responses from the PPP and IPP, who expressed their determination to challenge the PML-N in the elections.

The political landscape witnessed further activities, including a telephone conversation between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, aimed at addressing the latter’s reservations regarding key political decisions. Prime Minister Shehbaz also met with PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the upcoming elections.

Assurances were given to Maulana Fazlur Rehman to alleviate his concerns after the Dubai meeting, which excluded him and raised issues as he opposed any delay in the elections. Nawaz Sharif assured Maulana that no political decisions would be made without his involvement and emphasized their continued alliance within the opposition alliance.

During their conversation, the two leaders also discussed the interim set-up as the tenure of the 15th National Assembly is set to end on August 12. They reaffirmed their collective stance within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and agreed to hold further consultations on important political matters.