The government is likely to issue a presidential ordinance for formation of a judicial commission to hold probe into 2013 election rigging within the next 24 hours or the issue might go down the drain, it is learnt.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar along with Anusha Rehman held a meeting with Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jehangir Khan Tareen of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the formation of the proposed judicial commission at Punjab House Tuesday which ended inconclusive.
After the meeting, Jehangir Tareen of PTI told reporters that the next 24 hours are quite crucial and it will be clear whether the long-awaited commission is going to be set up or not.
To a question about the government's demand for some changes in the ToRs of the commission despite signing of an MoU, Tareen said he could not disclose the details of the meeting, which took place at Punjab House with PML-N team.
"I can not say much about today's meeting and let me say that next 24 hours are quite crucial and this will be clear within the next 24 hours that which way the talks are heading," Tareen said with a grim smile on his face.
The sources said that the two sides are also going to hold another meeting today (Wednesday) as the government is reportedly seeking some more amendments to the ToRs of the commission, which the PTI is not willing to do.
The government is making last ditch efforts to make amendments to the terms of reference after singing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PTI for setting up a judicial commission for holding probe into 2013 general elections.
The sources said that PTI is still optimistic that the government will set up the judicial commission through a Presidential Ordinance within 24 hours or else the party would be left with no option but to lock down the major cities of the country.
A senior PTI leader who wished not to be named accused the government of creating problem by not honouring its promises, as it was agreed that the commission would be set up within a week after the agreement.
He said PTI had the street power and capacity to lock down major cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, etc, adding that we extended full support and the ball is now in government's court.
According to him, the PTI was sceptical from the day-one that the government was not sincere in holding probe into 2013 general elections and this was the reason we tied our return to the National Assembly to the formation of judicial commission.
Referring to an earlier statement of Imran Khan, he said the PTI chairman had categorically stated that his party would take to the streets if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) backtracked on the agreement to form a judicial commission.
He said PML-N is now putting pressure on PTI to change the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that lead to the consensus between the two parties on the formation of a judicial commission.
"The MoU was agreed upon by both the parties some three months ago. The conflict of interest was on three terms of references (ToRs) of the proposed agreement which was later resolved, only after PTI showed some flexibility. They want to change it further which is not possible," the PTI leader added.
But now, after signing the agreement and its announcement in media, PML-N is hinting at backtracking from the agreement, which PTI will not allow at any cost, he asserted.
"We have shown flexibility and acceptance just for the sake of the people of the country. But if PML-N still plans to employ delaying tactics we will be rightful in taking to the streets for justice," he added.
He stated that his party will not hold further talks with the government if PML-N goes back on the agreement, adding this is a clear message for Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar.
"Let there be no doubt in it as it's (judicial commission) now or never," he added.
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