Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday linked its return to National Assembly with constitution of a judicial commission in response to a government request to return to the Parliament to vote on a proposed 22nd constitutional amendment to do away with horse-trading in Senate elections.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has invited parliamentary leaders of political parties to discuss the proposed constitutional amendment as major political parties including the PTI have proposed to abolish the secret balloting in Senate elections. After a meeting with PTI leader Jehnagir Khan Tareen at his residence, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told reporters that consultation with major parliamentary parties to stop 'horse trading' in Senate election was underway.
Dar said that good news was expected tomorrow (Friday) as leaders of both the parties will meet again in a bid to find a solution to persuade PTI as its MNAs have tendered resignations in protest against the delay in formation of the judicial commission to probe into alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.
He said that the leadership of the both parties exchanged views on the proposed amendment to the constitution as there is no option to amend the law as horse-trading is becoming popular depriving the genuine people from coming to the parliament due to use of money. The finance minister invited PTI to participate in parliamentary leaders' meeting with Prime Minister Sharif.
However, Tareen said that he can respond to the invitation only after consultation with the party. He said that party can participate in the meeting without any delay if the government forms the judicial commission as demanded by PTI to expose those involved in 2013 polls. According to sources Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is deputy parliamentary leader of PTI in National Assembly, is expected to attend the meeting of the parliamentary parties convened by the prime minister.