The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) officially declared on Friday that it would not pursue seat adjustments with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The decision, made during a pivotal meeting chaired by party president Chaudhry Shujaat, was outlined in an official statement released by the PML-Q. The statement emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency and avoiding double standards, noting that the PML-N had fielded candidates in their preferred constituencies.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) jointly submitted a requisition for a senate session to ensure the timely conduction of the general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024, as reported by The News.
PTI senator Ali Zafar spearheaded the effort, securing signatures from senate members in support of the session. The initiative garnered backing from PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami. The requisition highlighted the critical need to avoid political instability, emphasizing that holding elections on time was imperative for strengthening democracy.
This development comes in the wake of a resolution passed on January 5 in a sparsely attended senate session, seeking a delay in the general elections. The resolution, proposed by independent lawmaker Senator Dilawar Khan, cited extreme weather conditions in hilly areas and a deteriorating security situation as reasons for postponement. Notably, only 14 senate members were present when the resolution passed, with dissenting voices from PML-N and caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, while PPP and PTI senators remained silent. Senator Dilawar also pointed to the ongoing presence of COVID-19 as a factor supporting the call for elections to be postponed.