No chances of elections before October: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said there is no possibility to hold elections before October, ARY News reported on Friday.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Khawaja Asif said that the election will be held in October after the possible return of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif.

He said that the election will never be held in the absence of Nawaz Sharif.

Khawaja Asif said that it’s not only the end but the beginning of the tension, adding that, “if they held elections now then the election will be conducted in October too, which will spark more tension.”

READ: PTI, GOVT HOLD SECOND ROUND OF TALKS OVER ELECTION DATE

The defence minister said that the ruling government is talking about the constitution, it’s not about Imran Khan’s popularity or fear. “Popularity never remains lasts,” he said.

Govt-PTI talks

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation sought the date for the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) before the budget during the second round of talks with the federal government.

PTI chief Imran Khan directed the dialogue committee to conclude negotiation with the federal government at the earliest. It was learnt that Imran Khan instructed the dialogue committee to complete the dialogues within a week.

READ: MAULANA FAZLUR REHMAN SAYS ‘NOT READY TO HOLD TALKS WITH PTI’

As per Khan’s directives, PTI sought the date of NA dissolution from the federal government before the budget. Moreover, the delegation also rejected the government’s plan to conduct general elections in October.

Sources closer to PTI said that the political tensions can be reduced if the government gives a date for NA dissolution. They added that PTI wants significant progress in talks with the government before the next hearing in the Supreme Court (SC).

They said that PTI will not accept the delaying tactics of the government.

Prior to this development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said that negotiations with the coalition government will only go forward if they are willing to dissolve the National Assembly forthwith.