Pak opposition likely to hold all-party meet tomorrow

The Opposition political parties in Pakistan are likely to hold an all-party conference on Thursday afternoon. The venue is being decided.

The all-party meeting will comprise leaders from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Qaumi Watan Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal and other parties.

Quoting sources, Geo News reported that the Opposition would finalise names of candidates for the posts of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Prime Minister respectively. They would also discuss a strategy for the oath-taking of the elected members of the National Assembly (NA).

A call on a strategy to protest outside the Pakistan Parliament by the opposition parties would also be discussed, sources added.

They are also expected to finalise a consensus candidate for the post of the opposition leader in the NA.

Sources told Geo News that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto is expected to reach Islamabad today and will meet with the leaders of the opposition parties. Bilawal has taken up the job of making or breaking coalitions.

Sources further said that the Bhutto scion is expected to chair the all-party meeting.

The PTI emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats, after the Election Commission of Pakistan on July 28 released the complete preliminary results for 270 of 272 National Assembly (NA) constituencies. The PML-N which won 64 seats came second, while the PPP bagged 43 seats and finished third.

Pakistan went to polls on July 25 and the counting of votes began soon thereafter in the evening, which was marred by tedious counting and allegations of rigging by major political parties, including the PML-N and PPP.

Soon after the results were announced, an all-party meeting was called by the PML-N to prepare a strategy over the alleged rigging of the general elections.

Chaired by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and MMA president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the all-party meeting rejected the poll results and demanded a transparent re-election in the country.