NA Speaker foresees PMLN-PPP govt in Centre

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf foresees a possibility that Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will form a coalition government in the Centre after the elections. In an Interview with web based media outlet, he was asked about the announcement of date of February 8 by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after consultation with the president, the NA Speaker said the election will be held on February 8 and preparations are being made for it. 

“One should think positively as there is no other way but elections,” he expressed the op-timism. Regarding complaints of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for a levelplaying field, Raja Pervez Ashraf said:“There should be a system in which the law is equal for all, and it’s responsibility of the ECP.” 

Regarding the possibility of non-participation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its Chairman Imran Khan in the upcoming elections, the NA Speaker said there should be no ban on any party for contesting elections, but if there is a case against an individual, he will have to face it. At the same time, he pointed to the events of May 9 and said, “Would any British government allow their po-litical party to attack the headquarters of the Army?” The PPP leader believed that in the current politi-cal situation, the establishment has no role. “The establishment has matured and their announcement that they will not interfere should be taken as a good omen,” he added. Regarding the possibility of changing the 18th Amendment after the formation of a new government, he said that if someone has a two-thirds majority, he can change it. At the same time, he said that if someone has a simple majori-ty, he can do it, but our country is a federal system, so it has federating units and all the units should be taken on board at the time of any big step.