Tag: early elections

  • ‘If I am stopped from entering Punjab, this will be the beginning of Governor Raj,’ threatens Rana Sanaullah

    ‘If I am stopped from entering Punjab, this will be the beginning of Governor Raj,’ threatens Rana Sanaullah

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned that if he is stopped from entering Punjab, it will be the beginning of Governor Raj.

    “The summary to impose Governor’s Rule is being drafted, and I — personally — have started work on it,” said Rana while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    PTI leaders had suggested banning Rana Sanaullah’s entry into Punjab after winning Punjab by-elections.

    Rana Sanaullah also said that the political situation has worsened due to the decision of the Supreme Court.

    Sanaullah added that after the no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan was successful, the PML-N proposed moving towards early elections, indicating that the coalition partners did not agree.

    He also added that once the general elections are announced, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will come back to the country and lead the election campaign.

    “But now, the federal government is a government of coalition partners, and this coalition has formed governments in Sindh and Balochistan. The federal government has its own significance,” he said.

  • PML-N won’t accept early elections without the return of Nawaz Sharif: report

    PML-N won’t accept early elections without the return of Nawaz Sharif: report

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is currently reviewing the political situation in Pakistan and it is likely that the PML-N chief may return to Pakistan, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.

    It is also being reported that Nawaz Sharif should restart his interaction, both with the media and the public.  The PML-N did not want the government and were eager to go for fresh elections in May this year but were told to continue in the best interest of the country, stated the report.

    “We won’t accept it without the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and in the absence of a level-playing field and clear rules of [the] game for all political parties,” revealed a PML-N insider.

    The PML-N wants to see the court decide the appeals against Sharif to give him and the party a fair opportunity to contest the elections.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government will complete it’s constitutional term in August 2023.

    Last week, Ansar Abbasi revealed that the establishment is considering holding elections in October.

    Read more: ‘Soft intervention’ by the Establishment due to political crisis: report

    “A soft intervention by the establishment between the government and the Opposition has raised the prospect of early talks and general elections in the country in October,” said Abbasi.

    Abbasi further said that after the unconditional intervention of the establishment between the government and the Opposition, talks between the political parties are likely to begin soon and the prospect of general elections in October seems imminent.

  • What next for the PML-N? Experts weigh in

    What next for the PML-N? Experts weigh in

    On July 17, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) suffered a heavy loss in the by-elections as it only managed to win four seats out of 20 while its rival party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 75 per cent (15 seats) of the Punjab constituencies.

    Despite the PML-N’s disastrous performance in Punjab, the federal government has decided to complete its constitutional tenure till August 2023. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday (July 19). The coalition partners also agreed that they will give a tough time to Imran Khan.

    The Current reached out to experts to ask their opinion on what the PML-N should do next and what will be PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s next move.

    Here is what they have to say.

    PML-N is no longer popular among the masses: Shafqat Mahmood

    “PML-N is no longer popular among the masses. The people of Pakistan have realised that these people are “bhayaanak” [horrible]. It is because of their history of corruption and bad governance during the last three months that they have been badly defeated,” said PTI leader and former Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood.

    Talking about Khan and his future plans after winning the Punjab by-polls Mahmood said, “PTI only wants fair and free elections. On July 22, PTI will be in power in Punjab once again.”

    PML-N needs to go to the drawing board: Mansoor Ali Khan

    Senior journalist Mansoor Ali Khan said that the PML-N needs to go to the drawing board to fix its problems and start the process all over again.

    “They have to go back to the drawing board and start the process again. The most important thing in the present situation for the PML-N to think about is when can Nawaz Sharif come back to Pakistan. His absence has already caused a lot of damage. The party really needs to take a look at all the mistakes committed by them, which led to its defeat in the Punjab by-polls.”

    “I think this is Imran Khan’s winning moment and he will only want early elections. Khan will keep putting pressure on the government and will only want elections. Since the last two months, we have already witnessed him doing this and the Punjab by-polls result is evidence enough that Khan’s plan is working.”

    Federal capital without Punjab is nothing: Kashif Abbasi

    Senior journalist Kashif Abbasi said that the federal capital without Punjab is nothing.

    “The PML-N should talk to the PTI and find a way to work towards early elections. There is no point in running the federal capital without Punjab.”

    Abbasi said that Khan has all the cards at the moment while the PML-N is in trouble.

    “Early elections will possibly favour the PTI as well. So at present, early elections are the solution both for the PTI and PML-N.”

    Early elections should be called: Absa Komal

    Journalist Absa Komal said that the PTI secured a clear mandate in Punjab by sweeping the by-polls in PML-N’s home ground.

    “Ideally, sanity should prevail within the PML-N and early elections should be called.”

    “Khan sahib will keep on resisting, especially if the government creates problems in making Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi chief minister. Meanwhile, he will continue to build a narrative about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Khan will continue to use his victory in Punjab for building his future narrative,” said Komal.

    PML-N reaction

    Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that these by-elections cannot measure the popularity or unpopularity of the PML-N. 

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail stated in an interview that the government would keep making difficult choices in an effort to save the economy and keep the nation from going bankrupt.

    The finance minister also noted that it was crucial for the government to take unpopular measures, which also resulted in political setbacks. “But if need be, we will take more tough decisions,” he said.

  • PML-N decides not to hold early elections

    PML-N decides not to hold early elections

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided not to hold early general elections in the country and to complete its constitutional term, reports Geo News.

    In a meeting on Monday under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N’s defeat in Punjab by-polls and other political matters were discussed.

    On July 17, the ruling party suffered a heavy loss as it only managed to win four seats out of 20 while its rival party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 75 per cent (15 seats) of the Punjab constituencies.

    The decision regarding elections has been taken by the PML-N. The party is yet to discuss the matter with its coalition partners and for that, a meeting is scheduled for today (Tuesday).

    A day earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressed the nation after his party’s landslide victory in Punjab. He highlighted that the only way out of the current political crisis is free and fair elections.