PPP wants Pak general elections to be held ahead of schedule

Islamabad, Jan 29 (ANI): Pakistan People's Party is seriously thinking about holding general elections ahead of the schedule, apparently in the fall of this year, and in this connection the party leadership is taking views of heads of the coalition partners and other key stakeholders including the main opposition parties.

The Nation quoted sources, as saying that the PPP wanted to take its coalition partners on board on the matter and the process would be completed by the February-end, while some tentative schedule and composition of an interim setup would be finalised after the upcoming Senate elections on March 2.

They also said the differences on early elections existed among the coalition partners, as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) wanted local bodies elections ahead of general elections and in this connection they were putting pressure on their senior coalition partner in Sindh so as to settle the matter with them on the fate and future of the Local Bodies setup in the province.

Both the PPP and the MQM had failed to resolve their differences over the future setup of local bodies in the province, as MQM was a strong supporter of the District Government System while the PPP, Sindh chapter, was in support of the old municipality system, which was partly restored in shape of commissionerate system in the province and restoration of the old districts in the port city of Karachi.

The sources within the PPP informed that in a recently held core committee chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari, it was the unanimous view of the party leaders that soon after the Senate elections on March 2. The party would reportedly engage the key political players, including the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in dialogue over the composition of an interim setup, which would also require meaningful consultation between the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. (ANI)