ISLAMABAD: The MQM-P has agreed to vote for the government’s nominees in the elections for the offices of the National Assembly speaker and the deputy speaker, as well as the prime minister but remained non-committal on the upcoming elections of the president and the Senate chairman.

This was disclosed by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq of the PML-N after holding talks with the MQM-P leaders in Islamabad on Thursday. Accompanied by PPP leaders Syed Khurshid Shah and Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Aleem Khan of the IPP, and Khalid Magsi of the BAP, Mr Sadiq said they would continue talks with MQM-P to seek the party’s support for the elections of the president and the Senate chairman.

On the occasion, MQM convener Khalid Maq­bool Siddiqi said his party would not let the democratic system derail.

Mr Sadiq said they would come to MQM-P again to seek the party’s support for the president and the Senate chairman’s elections. Referring to the MQM-P’s demands, he said the PML-N had already promised that it would make efforts for amending the constitution so that the amount received by the provinces under the NFC Award should reach the district level.

Separately, MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar reportedly said that his party would likely to decide on joining the federal cabinet on Friday (today), adding that it would be politically favourable for the party to sit on opposition benches.

PTI delegation meets JUI-F chief

Meanwhile, a PTI delegation called on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the ongoing political situation in the country.

The PTI delegation included Omer Ayub Khan, Asad Qaiser and the party’s candidate for the office of the speaker Aamir Dogar.

Sources claimed that the JUI-F had decided to boycott the elections of the speaker and the deputy speaker scheduled for today (Friday).

PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan claimed that his party and the JUI-F were on the same page regarding the “massive rigging” during the February 8 general elections.

“We are not asking for re-polling nor are we asking for recounting,” he reportedly said, adding that the PTI only demanded results according to Form-45s.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2024