According to Dawn, it was PPP, a major coalition partner in the government, that begged the PML-N on Friday to review the decision to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the judgment about reserved seats of the PTI. PPP urged the government to back down from the legal challenge because little good could emerge from it.
The July 12 verdict by the Apex Court, allowing reserved seats to Imran Khan’s PTI, is not only going to facilitate the return of PTI to parliament but will also change the makeup of the National Assembly, ratcheting up pressure on the coalition alliance. PTI was disallowed from the February 8 polls by the December 2023 ruling of the ECP.
The PPP also proposed that the government should initiate an ongoing issue of banning the PTI through democratic means. The proposal for a ban on PTI drew strong reaction from different political parties, including PPP, ANP, JUI, and Jamaat-i-Islami, who termed the move undemocratic and dangerous if implemented.
The meeting presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari also included the PMLN Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Ayaz Sadiq, National Assembly Speaker, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Attorney General Mansoor Awan, whereas PPP was represented by Sherry Rehman, Farooq Naek and Nayyar Bokhari. The meeting followed complaints by the PPP that it had not been consulted about these issues by the PML-N.
Two key issues taken up for deliberation at the PML-N meeting were linked with the review petition over the judgment of the Supreme Court concerning reserved seats and an eventual ban on PTI over accusations about anti-state activities. Sources added that PPP would internally meet to reach a decision over its stance regarding the stand taken by the government on both issues, Dawn reported.