COAS’ extension: Talks with Opp only after detailed judgment

NOWSHERA: Defence Minister Pervez Khattak Sunday said an important meeting with the opposition parties on Wednesday would sort out the issue of appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

It may be mentioned here that three names each have been proposed by the government and the opposition for the positions of CEC and two ECP members from Sindh and Balochistan.

"We have held talks with our allies and all the opposition parties. We are meeting the opposition parties on Wednesday. I hope that will unanimously decide the CEC and ECP two members’ appointment issue," Khattak said while speaking at a public meeting in Khusmuqam area of Nowshera district and later talking to the reporters.

ANP workers Sadiq Khan and Israr Ali Khan quit the party and announced joining the PTI on this occasion.

Pervez Khattak, Imran Khattak MNA and Mian Khaliqur Rehman Khattak MPA welcomed the new entrants to the PTI and presented them the ruling party caps.

Khattak said no talks had been held so far with the opposition parties on the constitutional amendments for the army chief’s extension in service.

He said the government was waiting for the detailed judgment of the court on the case.

“We will sit with the government team to decide whether to go into a review of taking another step on that,” he explained.

The defence minister ruled out the possibility of any change. He said the PTI government had been elected for five years and would complete tenure.

Khattak said JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman was spreading disinformation by saying that the treasury members or allies were in disagreement with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He said the government was in contact with the allies and all the party MNAs stood by the government.

NNI adds: Meanwhile, talking to reporters in London, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said they would sincerely try to settle the issue of appointment of the CEC and the two ECP members.

This issue, he said, also came up during the PML-N leaders meeting in London.

He said it would be their sincere endeavor to talk out the issue but their experiences with Imran Khan in the recent past had been disappointing. Talking about the in-house change, Shahbaz said, “A lot of things keep happening in Islamabad but these days it is in the grip of black magic.”